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US 8,783,582 B2Granted
Adjustable arc irrigation sprinkler nozzle configured for positive indexing
AssigneeRain Bird Corporation
InventorsDavid Eugene Robertson, Eugene Ezekiel Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable arc spray nozzle for an irrigation sprinkler is provided, where positive indexing is provided at a plurality of present locations between relatively rotatable components of the nozzle for defining predetermined arcuate extents of the spray pattern.
Claims28
An irrigation spray nozzle for discharging an arcuately adjustable spray pattern, the nozzle comprising:
- a base having a first end portion adapted for attachment to an irrigation device and a second end portion;
- a first helical surface fixed relative to the base;
- a second helical surface moveable relative to the base, the first and second helical surfaces cooperating to define an arcuate discharge opening adjustable in size to determine an arc of spray distribution upon relative rotation between the first and second helical surfaces, the second helical surface being biased into a plurality of preset positions relative to the first helical surface such that a greater force is required to rotate the second helical surface out of one of the plurality of preset positions as compared to the force required to rotate the second helical surface between adjacent ones of the preset positions;
- and
- a deflector to deflect water received from the arcuate discharge opening.
2 more elements
A method of adjusting the arcuate extent of a discharge orifice for adjusting the arcuate extent of a spray pattern of an irrigation device, the method comprising:
- moving a first helical surface relative to a second helical surface to define the extent of the discharge orifice;
- and
- biasing the first helical surface relative to the second helical surface in a plurality of preset positions during the movement of the first helical surface with a greater force being required to rotate the first helical surface out of one of the plurality of preset positions as compared to the force required to rotate the first helical surface between adjacent ones of the preset positions.
An adjustable arc irrigation spray nozzle comprising:
- a base having an end adapted for attachment to an irrigation device;
- a deflector;
- a collar moveable relative to one or more fixed surfaces, the collar and the one or more fixed surfaces cooperating to form an adjustable arcuate discharge orifice for discharging water against the deflector, the collar being biased into one of a plurality of preset positions relative to the one or more fixed surfaces for providing positive indexing of the arcuate discharge orifice such that a greater force is required to rotate the collar out of one of the plurality of preset positions as compared to the force required to rotate the collar between adjacent ones of the preset positions.
An irrigation spray nozzle for discharging an arcuately adjustable spray pattern, the nozzle comprising:
- a base having a first end portion adapted for attachment to an irrigation device and a second end portion;
- a first helical surface fixed relative to the base;
- a second helical surface moveable relative to the base, the first and second helical surfaces cooperating to define an arcuate discharge opening adjustable in size to determine an arc of spray distribution upon relative rotation between the first and second helical surfaces, the second helical surface being biased into a plurality of preset positions relative to the first helical surface;
- and
- a deflector to deflect water received from the arcuate discharge opening;
- wherein the deflector has a depending neck with a plurality of flow notches disposed about its outer periphery, the preset positions being selected such that a notch aligned with an adjustable edge of the arcuate discharge opening is substantially unblocked by the second helical surface, wherein the deflector has an upper portion with an underside with depending ribs thereon and the flow notches are aligned with channels formed between the ribs such that water flow paths extend through the flow notches and into the channels, wherein a plurality of the ribs of the deflector have an outwardly-extending step at least partially along the length of the ribs such that a micro-ramp extends into the channels for directing a portion of the water flow, and wherein the channels have a bottom defined by the deflector and the plurality of ribs are each wider on a side of the step adjacent the bottom of the channels than on an opposite side of the step from the bottom of the channels.
3 more elements
An irrigation spray nozzle for discharging an arcuately adjustable spray pattern, the nozzle comprising:
- a base having a first end portion adapted for attachment to an irrigation device and a second end portion;
- a first helical surface fixed relative to the base;
- a second helical surface moveable relative to the base, the first and second helical surfaces cooperating to define an arcuate discharge opening adjustable in size to determine an arc of spray distribution upon relative rotation between the first and second helical surfaces, the second helical surface being biased into a plurality of preset positions relative to the first helical surface;
- and
- a deflector to deflect water received from the arcuate discharge opening;
- wherein the deflector has a depending neck with a plurality of flow notches disposed about its outer periphery, the preset positions being selected such that a notch aligned with an adjustable edge of the arcuate discharge opening is substantially unblocked by the second helical surface, wherein the deflector has an upper portion with an underside with depending ribs thereon and the flow notches are aligned with channels formed between the ribs such that water flow paths extend through the flow notches and into the channels, wherein a plurality of the ribs of the deflector have an outwardly-extending step at least partially along the length of the ribs such that a micro-ramp extends into the channels for directing a portion of the water flow, and wherein a plurality of the ribs each have more than one outwardly-extending steps at least partially along the length of the ribs such that more than one micro-ramp of each of the plurality of ribs extends into the channels for directing a portion of the water flow, and wherein the channels have a bottom defined by the deflector and the plurality of ribs are each wider on a side of any one of the more than one steps adjacent the bottom of the channels than on an opposite side of the one of the steps from the bottom of the channels.
3 more elements
An irrigation spray nozzle for discharging an arcuately adjustable spray pattern, the nozzle comprising:
- a base having a first end portion adapted for attachment to an irrigation device and a second end portion;
- a first helical surface fixed relative to the base;
- a second helical surface moveable relative to the base, the first and second helical surfaces cooperating to define an arcuate discharge opening adjustable in size to determine an arc of spray distribution upon relative rotation between the first and second helical surfaces, the second helical surface being biased into a plurality of preset positions relative to the first helical surface;
- and
- a deflector to deflect water received from the arcuate discharge opening;
- wherein a spring is associated with one of the first and second helical surfaces for selective engagement with one of a plurality of detents associated with the other of the first and second helical surfaces, and wherein a collar is mounted for rotation about a second end portion of the base and includes the second helical surface and a neck of the deflector includes the first helical surface, and the spring is formed on the base and the detents are formed in the collar.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.