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US 7,111,796 B2Granted
Sprinkler apparatus and related methods
OwnerDonald O. Olsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a sprinkler apparatus and related methods for the distribution of fluid. The invention preferably includes a nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along a fluid path. The invention preferably includes a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path. The coupling assembly preferably includes spaced apart magnets configured to exert an attractive force on each other to rotate one magnet in response to the rotation of the other magnet, and a resistive/drag force to oppose the continuous rotation of the nozzle. Pressure offsetting structures minimize or even neutralize the upward/downward forces that the flowing fluid otherwise would exert on the rotating shaft assembly.
Claims21
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a nozzle having a fluid path formed between an inlet and an outlet, the nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path, the magnetic drag coupling assembly configured to exert a drag force in opposition to the fluid flow force rotating the nozzle;
- further including a pressure balancing mechanism within the nozzle assembly to generally neutralize any axial force that might otherwise be imparted to the nozzle by the fluid flow
- wherein the coupling assembly includes a drive magnet and a reactionary magnet positioned that exert an attractive force upon each other, a drag source acting on said reactionary magnet to provide a resistive force to oppose rotation of the nozzle.
2 more elements
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a nozzle having a fluid path formed between an inlet and an outlet, the nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path, the magnetic drag coupling assembly configured to exert a drag force in opposition to the fluid flow force rotating the nozzle;
- wherein the coupling assembly includes a drive magnet and a reactionary magnet positioned that exert an attractive force upon each other, a drag force acting on one of the magnets to provide a resistive force to oppose rotation of the nozzle;
- wherein at least a portion of one of the magnets rotates within a sealed chamber containing resistive material that exerts friction on the magnet during such rotation;
- wherein the material in the sealed chamber is viscous.
3 more elements
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a housing having a magnetic drag coupling assembly, the coupling assembly including at least one reactionary and at least one drive magnet rotatably positioned in the housing, the drive magnet being attached to a nozzle portion of the sprinkler and positioned so as to exert an attractive force on the reactionary magnet, said reactionary magnet being positioned within said housing have imposed upon it a drag force opposing rotation of the nozzle.
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a housing having a magnetic drag coupling assembly, the coupling assembly including at least one reactionary and at least one drive magnet rotatably positioned in the housing, the drive magnet being attached to a nozzle portion of the sprinkler and positioned so as to exert an attractive force on the reactionary magnet, said reactionary magnet being positioned within said housing have imposed upon it a drag force opposing rotation of the nozzle;
- wherein at least a portion of one of the magnets rotates along a pathway of resistive material.
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a nozzle having a fluid path formed between an inlet and an outlet, the nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path, the magnetic drag coupling assembly having spaced apart magnets configured to exert an attractive force on each other to rotate one magnet in response to rotation of the other magnet, said housing further including a resistive material positioned to exert a resistive force on one of the magnets to provide a braking force against free rotation of the nozzle.
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a nozzle having a fluid path formed between an inlet and an outlet, the nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path, the magnetic drag coupling assembly having spaced apart magnets configured to exert an attractive force on each other to rotate one magnet in response to rotation of the other magnet, said housing further including a resistive material positioned to exert a resistive force on one of the magnets to provide a braking force against free rotation of the nozzle;
- further including a pressure balancing mechanism within the nozzle assembly to generally neutralize any axial force that might otherwise be imparted to the nozzle by the fluid flow.
1 more element
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a nozzle having a fluid path formed between an inlet and an outlet, the nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path, the magnetic drag coupling assembly having spaced apart magnets configured to exert an attractive force on each other to rotate one magnet in response to rotation of the other magnet, said housing further including a resistive material positioned to exert a resistive force on one of the magnets to provide a braking force against free rotation of the nozzle.
- wherein at least a portion of one of the magnets rotates along a pathway of resistive material.
1 more element
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a nozzle having a fluid path formed between an inlet and an outlet, the nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path, the magnetic drag coupling assembly configured to exert a drag force in opposition to the fluid flow force rotating the nozzle;
- further including a pressure balancing mechanism within the nozzle assembly to generally neutralize any axial force that might otherwise be imparted to the nozzle by the fluid flow;
- wherein the coupling assembly includes a drive magnet and a reactionary magnet positioned that exert an attractive force upon each other, a drag force acting on one of the magnets to provide a resistive force to oppose rotation of the nozzle;
- wherein at least a portion of one of the magnets rotates within a sealed chamber containing resistive material that exerts friction on the magnet during such rotation;
- wherein the material in the sealed chamber is viscous.
4 more elements
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a nozzle having a fluid path formed between an inlet and an outlet, the nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path, the magnetic drag coupling assembly configured to exert a drag force in opposition to the fluid flow force rotating the nozzle;
- further including a pressure balancing mechanism within the nozzle assembly to generally neutralize any axial force that might otherwise be imparted to the nozzle by the fluid flow;
- in which said pressure balancing mechanism includes an inlet flow opening in the side of a central rotor tube and a plug and seal structure at one end of the tube providing a cross-sectional area exposed to the fluid pressure, said area being generally equal to the cross-sectional area upon which the fluid pressure acts in an upward direction on the tube, so that the pressure exerted by the fluid flowing through the assembly is applied to approximately the same effective cross-sectional area in both an upward and a downward direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.