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US 6,267,299 B1Granted
Nutating sprinkler with gimbal bearing
AssigneeNelson Irrigation Corporation
InventorLarry P. Meyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nutating sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler body having one end adapted to be coupled to a water supply conduit and an opposite end supporting a nozzle. At least one arm extends from the sprinkler body for supporting a removable cap assembly downstream of the nozzle. The cap assembly supports a gimbal bearing that, in turn, supports a rotor plate with off-center grooves for distributing a stream exiting the nozzle and impinging upon the grooves. A shaft has one end supporting the rotor plate for rotation about a center axis of the rotor plate, and an opposite end supported within the gimbal bearing.
Claims17
A nutating sprinkler assembly comprising:
- a sprinkler body having one end adapted to be coupled to a water supply conduit and an opposite end supporting a nozzle;
- at least one arm extending from said sprinkler body supporting a removable cap assembly downstream of said nozzle, said cap assembly having gimbal bearing supporting a rotor plate having off-center grooves for distributing a stream exiting said nozzle and impinging upon said grooves;
- a shaft having one end supporting said rotor plate for rotation about a center axis of the rotor plate, and an opposite end supported within said gimbal bearing.
A nutating sprinkler assembly comprising:
- a sprinkler body having one end adapted to be coupled to a water supply conduit and an opposite end supporting a nozzle;
- at least one arm extending from said sprinkler body supporting a removable cap assembly downstream of said nozzle, said cap assembly having gimbal bearing supporting a rotor plate having off-center grooves for distributing a stream exiting said nozzle and impinging upon said grooves;
- a shaft having one end supporting said rotor plate for rotation about a center axis of the rotor plate, and an opposite end supported within said gimbal bearing;
- and including a seal between said rotor plate and said shaft.
1 more element
A nutating sprinkler assembly comprising:
- a sprinkler body having one end adapted to be coupled to a water supply conduit and an opposite end supporting a nozzle;
- at least one arm extending from said sprinkler body supporting a removable cap assembly downstream of said nozzle, said cap assembly having gimbal bearing supporting a rotor plate having off-center grooves for distributing a stream exiting said nozzle and impinging upon said grooves;
- a shaft having one end supporting said rotor plate for rotation about a center axis of the rotor plate, and an opposite end supported within said gimbal bearing;
- wherein said rotor plate has a first annular surface engaging a stationary, annular surface provided in said cap assembly;
- and further wherein said first annular surface has a diameter smaller than said stationary annular surface.
2 more elements
A nutating sprinkler assembly comprising:
- a sprinkler body having one end adapted to be coupled to a water supply conduit and an opposite end supporting a nozzle;
- at least one arm extending from said sprinkler body supporting a removable cap assembly downstream of said nozzle, said cap assembly supporting a rotor plate on one end of a non-rotatable shaft for rotation about a first axis defined by said shaft, said rotor plate having off-center grooves for radially distributing a stream exiting said nozzle and impinging upon said grooves;
- and
- a gimbal bearing carried by said cap assembly, wherein said shaft has an opposite end fixed in said gimbal bearing for pivotal movement about second and third mutually perpendicular axes.
1 more element
A nutating sprinkler assembly comprising:
- a sprinkler body having one end adapted to be coupled to a water supply conduit and an opposite end supporting a nozzle;
- at least one arm extending from said sprinkler body supporting a removable cap assembly downstream of said nozzle, said cap assembly supporting a rotor plate on one end of a non-rotatable shaft for rotation about a first axis defined by said shaft, said rotor plate having off-center grooves for radially distributing a stream exiting said nozzle and impinging upon said grooves;
- and
- a gimbal bearing carried by said cap assembly, wherein said shaft has an opposite end fixed in said gimbal bearing for pivotal movement about second and third mutually perpendicular axes;
- wherein said opposite end of said shaft is pivotally mounted within a first sleeve for pivoting motion about said second axis and further wherein said first sleeve is pivotally mounted within a second sleeve for pivoting motion about said third axis;
- and further wherein said shaft is pivotally mounted within said first sleeve by a first pin extending from opposite sides of said shaft, and wherein seals are provided on said first pin between said shaft and said first sleeve, and wherein said first sleeve is pivotally mounted within said sleeve by a second pair of pins extending from opposite sides of said first sleeve, and further wherein seals are provided on said pair of pins between said first sleeve and said second sleeve.
3 more elements
A nutating sprinkler assembly comprising:
- a sprinkler body having one end adapted to be coupled to a water supply conduit and an opposite end supporting a nozzle;
- at least one arm extending from said sprinkler body supporting a removable cap assembly downstream of said nozzle, said cap assembly supporting a rotor plate on one end of a non-rotatable shaft for rotation about a first axis defined by said shaft, said rotor plate having off-center grooves for radially distributing a stream exiting said nozzle and impinging upon said grooves;
- and
- a gimbal bearing carried by said cap assembly, wherein said shaft has an opposite end fixed in said gimbal bearing for pivotal movement about second and third mutually perpendicular axes;
- wherein said rotor plate has a first annular surface engaging a stationary, annular surface provided in said cap assembly;
- and further wherein said first annular surface has a diameter smaller than said stationary annular surface.
3 more elements
A nutating sprinkler assembly comprising a sprinkler body supporting a nozzle and a rotor plate supported downstream of said sprinkler body;
- said rotor plate having a center axis defined by a shaft extending from said rotor plate and received in a gimbal bearing such that said rotor plate is rotatable about said center axis and pivotable about two mutually perpendicular axes within said gimbal bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.