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US 8,998,107 B2Granted
Pop-up sprinkler with integrated pressure regulator and drain check
AssigneeNelson Irrigation Corporation
InventorsGeorge L. Sesser, Craig B. Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sprinkler head includes a first housing carrying a center stem having an inlet at an upstream end and an outlet at a downstream end. A second housing is supported within the first housing and encloses a nozzle and a pressure regulator in axially-aligned relationship, defining a flowpath between the inlet and an orifice of the nozzle. The second housing is normally biased to a retracted position but is moveable to an extended position relative to the first housing and to the center stem. A surface of the pressure regulator cooperates with the outlet of the center stem as the second housing moves relative to the first housing to regulate pressure to the nozzle orifice.
Claims22
A sprinkler head comprising:
- a first housing carrying a center stem having an inlet at an upstream end and a radially outwardly-facing outlet aperture at a downstream end;
- a second housing supported within said first housing and enclosing a nozzle provided with a nozzle orifice and a pressure regulator in axially-aligned relationship defining a flowpath between said inlet and an orifice of said nozzle, said second housing normally biased to a retracted position by a spring but moveable to an extended position relative to said first housing and to said center stem by a line pressure of fluid in said center stem, wherein a surface of said pressure regulator moves relative to said outlet aperture of said center stem to change the size of the flowpath through said outlet aperture as said second housing moves relative to said first housing such that a force created by the line pressure and a force exerted by the spring are equal to regulate pressure to said nozzle orifice.
A sprinkler head comprising:
- a first housing carrying a center stem having an inlet at an upstream end and an outlet at a downstream end;
- a second housing supported within said first housing and enclosing a nozzle and a pressure regulator in axially-aligned relationship defining a flowpath between said inlet and an orifice of said nozzle, said second housing normally biased to a retracted position but moveable to an extended position relative to said first housing and to said center stem, wherein a surface of said pressure regulator cooperates with said outlet of said center stem as said second housing moves relative to said first housing to regulate pressure to said nozzle orifice;
- and wherein
- said fixed center stem mounts an upwardly extending nozzle cleaning pin that is sized and shaped to pass through said nozzle orifice in said retracted position to thereby clean said orifice.
1 more element
A sprinkler head comprising:
- a first housing carrying a center stem having an inlet at an upstream end and a radially outwardly-facing outlet aperture at a downstream end;
- a second housing supported within said first housing and enclosing a nozzle provided with a nozzle orifice and a pressure regulator in axially-aligned relationship defining a flowpath between said inlet and an orifice of said nozzle, said second housing normally biased to a retracted position but moveable to an extended position relative to said first housing and to said center stem, wherein a surface of said pressure regulator moves relative to said outlet aperture of said center stem to change the size of the flowpath through said outlet aperture as said second housing moves relative to said first housing to regulate pressure to said nozzle orifice, and wherein an inner annular surface of said nozzle engages an upper annular edge of said center stem to prevent backflow into said center stem when said second housing is in said retracted position.
A sprinkler head comprising:
- a first outer housing adapted to attachment to a riser;
- a second inner housing normally enclosed in a retracted position within said first outer housing and moveable to an extended operative position;
- said second housing supporting a nozzle and a rotatable water-distribution plate downstream of said nozzle;
- said second housing further including first means for continuously regulating pressure of water delivered to said nozzle, second means for controlling speed of rotation of said water-distribution plate, third means for automatically cleaning said nozzle upon movement of said second housing to said retracted position;
- and an annular seal supported in said first outer housing sealingly engaging said second inner housing.
2 more elements
A sprinkler head comprising:
- a first outer housing adapted to attachment to a riser;
- a second inner housing normally enclosed in a retracted position within said first outer housing and moveable to an extended operative position;
- said second housing supporting a nozzle and a rotatable water-distribution plate downstream of said nozzle;
- said second housing further including first means for continuously regulating pressure of water delivered to said nozzle, second means for controlling speed of rotation of said water-distribution plate, and third means for automatically cleaning said nozzle upon movement of said second housing to said retracted position;
- and wherein
- said first means includes a spring external to said second housing arranged to normally bias said second housing to said retracted position.
3 more elements
A sprinkler head comprising:
- a first housing carrying a center stem having an inlet at an upstream end and an outlet at a downstream end;
- a second housing supported within said first housing and enclosing a nozzle having a nozzle orifice downstream of said outlet;
- said second housing normally biased to a retracted position but linearly displaceable to an extended position relative to said first housing and to said center stem by introduction of a supply of water under pressure;
- a pin fixed to said center stem and extending upwardly through said nozzle orifice in said retracted position but spaced from said nozzle orifice when said second housing is in said extended position, such that said nozzle orifice is automatically cleaned upon movement of said second housing from said extended position to said retracted position.
1 more element
A sprinkler head comprising:
- a first housing carrying a center stem having an inlet at an upstream end and an outlet at a downstream end;
- a second housing supported within said first housing and enclosing a nozzle having a nozzle orifice downstream of said outlet;
- said second housing normally biased to a refracted position but moveable to an extended position relative to said first housing and to said center stem;
- a pin fixed to said center stem and extending upwardly through said nozzle orifice in said retracted position but spaced from said nozzle orifice when said second housing is in said extended position, such that said nozzle orifice is automatically cleaned upon movement of said second housing from said extended position to said retracted position,
- wherein said outlet of said center stem comprises a pair of teardrop-shaped apertures, and wherein said second housing also encloses a pressure regulator coaxial with and upstream of said nozzle, a radially inwardly facing, convexly curved surface of said pressure regulator cooperating with said teardrop-shaped apertures to regulate pressure to said nozzle orifice as said second housing moves relative to said center stem.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.