Sprinkler nozzle and flow channel

A sprinkler for distributing water to an area, the sprinkler comprising:

• a support housing having a longitudinal central axis;
• a flow path for directing water through the sprinkler;
• a drive mechanism having a portion located in the flow path for producing rotational power;
• a sprinkler head operably coupled with the drive mechanism and rotatably supported by the support housing, wherein the sprinkler head includes a head housing including a nozzle, and a flow channel for directing water from the flow path through the nozzle, the flow channel having an inlet, an outlet in communication with the nozzle, and at least a portion being generally arcuately shaped and smoothly tapered between the inlet and outlet;
• a rear wall portion upstream from the tapered portion and at least in part defining the inlet opening;
• an imaginary cross-section plane through the flow channel angling downstream from the inlet and transitioning the downstream tapered portion from the upstream rear wall portion;
• wherein the flow channel inlet defines a generally planar opening, the imaginary plane being angled downstream at a predetermined angle relative to the generally planar opening;
• wherein the intersection of the rear wall portion and the imaginary plane define a first point that is a first predetermined distance downstream from the inlet plane, the flow channel outlet defines a second point that is a second predetermined distance downstream from the inlet plane, and the first and second points define a predetermined radius of curvature for the tapered;
• and
• wherein the rear wall portion and the tapered portion combine to define a non-tortuous guide wall portion extending between the inlet and the outlet and guiding the flow in a changing angular direction where the changing angular direction includes an angle relative to the central axis that always increases in the same direction.

A sprinkler for distributing water to an area, the sprinkler comprising:

• a housing having a flow path for receiving water from a water source and having a longitudinal central axis and the flow path having an outlet;
• a sprinkler head rotatably mounted on the housing and having a nozzle for distributing water;
• a drive mechanism operably coupled with the sprinkler head and having a portion located in the flow path for producing rotational power for rotating the sprinkler head;
• the sprinkler head defining a flow channel for receiving water in a first general direction from the housing flow path and for channeling the water from the first general direction to a second direction generally aligned with the nozzle;
• a flow channel member for guiding water flow into the nozzle and for reducing energy loss experienced by water flowing in the flow channel, the member including an open inlet end generally aligned with the outlet of the flow path, a rear wall portion downstream from the inlet, and a tapered portion downstream from the rear wall portion and defining an outlet of the flow channel member;
• a break plane angling downstream from the inlet opening and dividing the downstream tapered portion from the upstream rear wall portion;
• wherein the flow channel inlet defines a substantially planar opening;
• wherein the intersection of the rear wall portion and break plane define a first point that is a first predetermined maximum height from the inlet plane, the flow channel outlet defines a second point that is a second predetermined maximum height from the inlet plane, and the first and second points define a predetermined radius of curvature for the tapered;
• and
• wherein the rear wall portion and the tapered portion combine to define a non-tortuous guide wall portion extending between the inlet and the outlet and guiding the flow in a changing angular direction where the changing angular direction includes an angle relative to the central axis that always increases in the same direction.

A sprinkler for distributing water comprising:

• a housing having a longitudinal central axis;
• a drive mechanism for producing rotational power;
• and
• a sprinkler head operably coupled to the drive mechanism and rotatably supported by the housing and including a flow channel member having an inlet and outlet and defining a flow channel therebetween;
• the flow channel member having an upstream portion and a downstream portion;
• the upstream portion including an upstream edge defining the inlet and a cylindrical rear wall section that extends downstream a first distance from the upstream edge and that defines a predetermined circumferential extent, the first distance varying about the circumferential extent to form an arced transition portion with the downstream portion;
• and
• the downstream portion including a tapered profile being arcuate in both the direction of the water flow and transverse to the direction of water flow and terminating with a downstream edge forming the outlet;
• wherein the upstream portion and the downstream portion combine to define a non-tortuous guide wall portion extending between the inlet and the outlet and guiding the flow in a changing angular direction where the changing angular direction includes an angle relative to the central axis that always increases in the same direction.