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US 8,074,897 B2Granted
Sprinkler with variable arc and flow rate
AssigneeRain Bird Corporation
InventorsSteven Brian Hunnicutt, Samuel C. Walker, Rowshan Jahan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable arc sprinkler may be set to numerous positions along a continuum to adjust the arcuate span of the sprinkler. The sprinkler includes a nozzle body and a valve sleeve that helically engage each other to define an arcuate slot that may be adjusted at the top of the sprinkler to a desired arcuate span. The sprinkler may include a flow rate adjustment device that may be adjusted by actuation or rotation of an outer wall portion of the sprinkler. Rotation of the outer wall portion may cause a throttle control member to move axially to or away from an inlet, or may cause one or more restrictor elements to open or close, to control the flow rate of the sprinkler.
Claims49
A rotating stream sprinkler comprising:
- a deflector having an underside surface contoured to deliver a plurality of fluid streams generally radially outwardly therefrom through an arcuate span, the deflector defining a bore;
- and
- a nozzle body defining an inlet, an outlet, a central hub, and a valve sleeve, the inlet capable of receiving fluid from a source, the outlet capable of delivering fluid to the underside surface of the deflector, the central hub defining a bore and an internal helical surface;
- and the valve sleeve defining an external helical surface that adjustably engages the internal helical surface of the central hub to form an arcuate slot that is adjustable in size to determine the arcuate span;
- wherein the valve sleeve is rotatable through at least 180 degrees, rotation causing the external helical surface of the valve sleeve to traverse the internal helical surface of the central hub and adjust the size of the arcuate slot by at least 180 degrees;
- and
- wherein the valve sleeve is rotatable through substantially 360 degrees for adjustment of the size of the arcuate slot by substantially 360 degrees.
4 more elements
A rotating stream sprinkler comprising:
- a deflector having an underside surface contoured to deliver a plurality of fluid streams generally radially outwardly therefrom through an arcuate span, the deflector defining a bore;
- and
- a nozzle body defining an inlet, an outlet, a central hub, and a valve sleeve, the inlet capable of receiving fluid from a source, the outlet capable of delivering fluid to the underside surface of the deflector, the central hub defining a bore and an internal helical surface;
- and the valve sleeve defining an external helical surface that adjustably engages the internal helical surface of the central hub to form an arcuate slot that is adjustable in size to determine the arcuate span;
- wherein the valve sleeve comprises a first fin projecting radially outwardly from the valve sleeve and wherein the nozzle body comprises a second fin projecting radially inwardly from the central hub, the first and second fins channeling fluid flow to define first and second edges of fluid flowing through the arcuate slot.
2 more elements
A rotating stream sprinkler comprising:
- a deflector having an underside surface contoured to deliver a plurality of fluid streams generally radially outwardly therefrom through an arcuate span, the deflector defining a bore;
- and
- a nozzle body defining an inlet, an outlet, a central hub, and a valve sleeve, the inlet capable of receiving fluid from a source, the outlet capable of delivering fluid to the underside surface of the deflector, the central hub defining a bore and an internal helical surface;
- and the valve sleeve defining an external helical surface that adjustably engages the internal helical surface of the central hub to form an arcuate slot that is adjustable in size to determine the arcuate span;
- an arc adjustment member extending through the deflector bore and engaging the valve sleeve for rotation of the valve sleeve to adjust the size of the arcuate slot;
- wherein the valve sleeve defines a bore and includes an internal splined segment for interlockably engaging a corresponding splined segment of the arc adjustment member.
3 more elements
A rotating stream sprinkler comprising:
- a deflector rotatable about a central axis and having an underside surface contoured to deliver a plurality of fluid streams generally radially outwardly therefrom;
- a collar rotatable about the central axis and defining an internal engagement surface;
- and
- a valve having an external engagement surface for coupling to the internal engagement surface of the collar;
- wherein rotation of the collar causes opening and closing of the valve for adjusting the amount of fluid flow through the sprinkler;
- wherein the valve comprises a throttle control member rotatable about the central axis and wherein rotation of the collar causes rotation of the throttle control member and movement of the throttle control member in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis;
- wherein the internal engagement surface of the collar defines a first splined surface and wherein the external engagement surface of the throttle control member defines a second splined surface for interlocking engagement with the first splined surface of the collar.
4 more elements
A rotating stream sprinkler comprising:
- a deflector rotatable about a central axis and having an underside surface contoured to deliver a plurality of fluid streams generally radially outwardly therefrom;
- a collar rotatable about the central axis and defining an internal engagement surface;
- and
- a valve having an external engagement surface for coupling to the internal engagement surface of the collar;
- wherein rotation of the collar causes opening and closing of the valve for adjusting the amount of fluid flow through the sprinkler;
- wherein the valve comprises a throttle control member rotatable about the central axis and wherein rotation of the collar causes rotation of the throttle control member and movement of the throttle control member in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis;
- wherein the throttle control member comprises a ring having the external engagement surface on the outside circumference thereof and a plurality of ribs joining the ring to the central hub, the ribs defining flow passages for the flow of fluid therethrough.
4 more elements
A variable arc sprinkler comprising:
- a deflector having an underside surface contoured to deliver a plurality of fluid streams generally radially outwardly therefrom through an arcuate span, the deflector defining a bore;
- and
- a nozzle body defining an inlet, an outlet, a central hub, and a valve sleeve, the inlet capable of receiving fluid from a source, the outlet capable of delivering fluid to the underside surface of the deflector, the central hub defining a bore and an internal helical surface;
- and the valve sleeve defining an external helical surface that adjustably engages the internal helical surface of the central hub to form an arcuate slot that is adjustable in size to determine the arcuate span;
- wherein the valve sleeve is rotatable through at least 180 degrees, rotation causing the external helical surface of the valve sleeve to traverse the internal helical surface of the central hub and adjust the size of the arcuate slot by at least 180 degrees;
- and
- wherein the valve sleeve is rotatable through substantially 360 degrees for adjustment of the size of the arcuate slot by substantially 360 degrees.
4 more elements
A sprinkler with a flow rate adjustment feature comprising:
- a deflector rotatable about a central axis and having an underside surface contoured to deliver a plurality of fluid streams generally radially outwardly therefrom;
- a collar rotatable about the central axis and defining an internal engagement surface;
- and
- a valve having an external engagement surface for coupling to the internal engagement surface of the collar;
- wherein rotation of the collar causes opening and closing of the valve for adjusting the amount of fluid flow through the sprinkler;
- wherein the valve comprises a throttle control member rotatable about the central axis and wherein rotation of the collar causes rotation of the throttle control member and movement of the throttle control member in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis;
- wherein the internal engagement surface of the collar defines a first splined surface and wherein the external engagement surface of the throttle control member defines a second splined surface for interlocking engagement with the first splined surface of the collar.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.