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US 7,631,813 B1Granted
Sprinkler assembly
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorsLeo James Lichte, James Zimmerman, Jeff McKenzie, James T. Wright, III, Peter Janku
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Abstract
The present invention includes an improved sprinkler design having a magnetic sensing system for determining the position of the riser nozzle, a waterproofed motor housing and related cables, configurable sprinkler body compartments, and a pilot valve with a check valve assembly, both of which are located within the sprinkler body.
Claims19
A method of controlling a sprinkler comprising:
- providing a sprinkler body having a riser assembly which is vertically movable within said sprinkler body and at least a portion of which is rotatable relative to said sprinkler body, said riser assembly including a nozzle;
- providing an X and Y axis reference device on said riser;
- sensing X and Y data from said X and Y axis reference device;
- comparing said X and Y data with reference X and Y data and thereby determining orientation information of said riser assembly;
- and,
- delivering water through said riser and said riser assembly, out said nozzle, according to the determination of said orientation information of said riser assembly.
3 more elements
A method of watering comprising:
- providing a sprinkler body with a nozzle assembly therein;
- providing a nozzle assembly monitoring system within said sprinkler body;
- determining a rotational position of said nozzle assembly with said nozzle assembly monitoring system;
- determining a vertical position of said nozzle assembly with said nozzle assembly monitoring system;
- providing water to a nozzle within said nozzle assembly;
- electronically rotating said nozzle assembly with an electric motor located in said sprinkler body;
- detecting said nozzle assembly position at an end of a watering arc with said nozzle assembly monitoring system;
- stopping electronically rotating said nozzle assembly after said nozzle assembly has rotated to said end of said watering arc;
- and
- stopping providing said water to said nozzle.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.