Impeller driven traveling sprinkler

A self propelled sprinkler unit for irrigation of a ground area and connection with a hose connected to a pressurized water source, the sprinkler unit comprising:

• a drive unit having a hose inlet with a hose coupler, the drive unit having a drive chamber with a rotatable impeller in fluid contact with the water flow from the hose inlet;
• a shaft mechanically coupled to the impeller;
• a pair of rear wheels, at least one rear wheel coupled to the shaft;
• an outlet coupler in fluid communication with the drive unit;
• a sprinkler head mounted on the outlet coupler;
• a support body having a front end and a rear end connected to the drive unit;
• a front wheel mounted to the front end;
• an adaptor coupled to the outlet, the adaptor having a port for fluid communication with the outlet, and a socket for the insertion of the sprinkler;
• a bumper transversely mounted on the support body to move between a forward position and a rearward position, the bumper having an arm;
• and
• a plunger valve in the adaptor and coupled to the arm, such that when the bumper is in the rearward position, the plunger valve cuts off water flow between the outlet and the socket.

A self propelled sprinkler unit for irrigation of a ground area and connection with a hose connected to a pressurized water source, the sprinkler unit comprising:

• a drive unit having a hose inlet with a hose coupler, the drive unit having a drive chamber with a rotatable impeller in fluid contact with the water flow from the hose inlet;
• a shaft mechanically coupled to the impeller;
• a pair of rear wheels, at least one rear wheel coupled to the shaft;
• an outlet coupler in fluid communication with the drive unit;
• a sprinkler head mounted on the outlet coupler;
• and
• a hose guide coupled to the front end of the body, the hose guide capable of directing a hose for guiding the drive unit.

A water propelled drive unit for a self propelled sprinkler with a hose coupled to a water source, the drive unit comprising:

• an enclosed drive chamber in a cylindrical shape with two relatively flat ends, an outer surface, and an inner surface;
• an inlet coupler on the exterior surface of the drive chamber allowing fluid communication to the drive chamber;
• a shaft mounted between the two flat ends;
• a wheel which supports the sprinkler and is in contact with the ground, the wheel coupled to the shaft;
• a rotatable impeller mounted axially on the shaft in the drive chamber, the impeller in fluid contact with the inlet coupler and in mechanical relation with the shaft via a reduction gearing system contained within the drive chamber;
• an outlet coupler on the exterior surface of the drive chamber
• a carrier disk rotatable on the shaft having one side with a pair of diametrically opposed shafts and an opposite side with a sun gear mounted coaxially with the shaft, the carrier disk in mechanical connection with the shaft;
• a pair of planet gears mounted on the diametrically opposed shafts;
• a sun gear coaxially mounted on the impeller;
• and
• wherein the inner surface of the drive chamber has gear teeth and the planet gears intermesh with the gear teeth of the inner surface of the drive chamber and the sun gear.

A water propelled drive unit for a self propelled sprinkler with a hose coupled to a water source, the drive unit comprising:

• an enclosed drive chamber in a cylindrical shape with two relatively flat ends, an outer surface, and an inner surface;
• an inlet coupler on the exterior surface of the drive chamber allowing fluid communication to the drive chamber;
• a shaft mounted between the two flat ends;
• a rotatable impeller mounted axially on the shaft in the drive chamber, the impeller in fluid contact with the inlet coupler and in mechanical relation with the shaft;
• an outlet coupler on the exterior surface of the drive chamber;
• a pair of wheels coupled to the shaft;
• a carrier disk rotatable on the shaft having one side with a pair of diametrically opposed shafts and an opposite side with a sun gear mounted coaxially with the shaft, the carrier disk in mechanical connection with the shaft;
• a pair of planet gears mounted on the diametrically opposed shafts;
• a sun gear coaxially mounted on the impeller;
• wherein the inner surface of the drive chamber has gear teeth and the planet gears intermesh with the gear teeth of the inner surface of the drive chamber and the sun gear;
• a second carrier disk rotatable on the shaft having one side with a pair of diametrically opposed shafts and an opposite side with a second sun gear mounted coaxially with the shaft, the carrier disk in mechanical connection with the shaft;
• a second pair of planet gears mounted on the diametrically opposed shafts;
• and
• wherein the second pair of planet gears intermesh with the gear teeth of the inner surface of the drive chamber and the second sun gear.