Sprinkler Systems

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to sprinkler systems, and more particularly, to improvements in sprinklers used in such systems wherein water under pressure causes the sprinkler head and nozzle thereof to pop up to disperse or spray water out of the nozzle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In my U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,664, I disclosed an improved sprinkler system wherein fluid under pressure flows through a sprinkler and a sprinkler head and nozzle, actuated by the fluid pressure, pops up and sprays water out of the nozzle. Such sprinklers include an impeller actuated by fluid flow and a transmission which converts rotation of the impeller to rotation of the nozzle.

In such sprinklers, suitable means may be provided for varying the pattern of the sprayed fluids. For example, differing types of nozzles may be substituted on the sprinkler. Such means may also take the form of plates or patterns of varying types which can be substituted in the sprinkler for varying the spray of fluid thereout.

It can be appreciated that a wide variety of water flow or volume of water being sprayed out of the nozzle may be obtained in this manner, such as from about 1/2 to 20 gallons of water per minute. During these differing volumes of water spray, it is desired that the nozzle rotate at a predetermined rate. For example, it is preferable that the rate of rotation of the nozzle be neither too slow or too fast. Preferably, a rate of rotation of about one to three minutes for each revolution of the nozzle would be desirable.

However, if the range of water volume spray provided by varying either the nozzle itself or changing the pattern of spray of the nozzle is so great that, in such prior art sprinklers, the nozzle will rotate either too fast or too slow. Accordingly, it is necessary that such sprinklers have means for compensating for differing volumes of water spray out of the nozzles and automatically adjusting the rate of rotation of such nozzles depending on the volume of water spray.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved means for dispersing fluid under pressure out of the rotating nozzle of a sprinkler system.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for regulating the rate of rotation of the nozzle of the sprinkler head in such sprinkler system regardless of the volume of fluid being sprayed out of the nozzle.

It is still another object of this invention to automatically compensate for the pressure drop taking place in such a sprinkler system when the volume of fluid being sprayed out of the rotating nozzle thereof is varied.

It is a still further object of this invention to carry out the foregoing object in a manner controlling the rate of rotation of the nozzle.

These and other objects are preferably accomplished by providing improvements in a sprinkler system having fluid under pressure flowing therethrough and a sprinkler head with a pop up nozzle actuated by fluid pressure. An impeller is actuated by the fluid flow to rotate the nozzle and thus rotate the spray of fluid therefrom. A transmission is disposed between the impeller and the nozzle for transmitting rotation of the impeller to the nozzle. The improvements include means for regulating the rate of rotation of the nozzle regardless of the volume of fluid being sprayed thereout. This may be accomplished by a substantially constant velocity of incoming fluid impinging on impeller blades. This velocity may be maintained substantially constant by a variable resistance valve in association with a stationary stator having blades thereon which valve moves with respect to the stator to provide a guided substantially constant velocity of jets of fluid on the impeller blades to rotate the same which in turn rotates the nozzle at a substantially constant rate of rotation.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view, partly in section, of a conventional sprinkler having an improvement thereon in accordance with the teachings of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed, partly cross-sectional, view of the portion of the sprinkler of FIG. 1 improved in accordance with the teachings of my invention, taken along lines II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, partly in section, taken along lines III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the movement of various components thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines V--V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines VII--VII of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a sprinkler head 10 is shown essentially similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,664, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such a sprinkler head 10 includes an outer housing 11 and an inner housing 12. Housing 11 terminates at its lower end in a water inlet 13 with a water supply line 14 threaded therein all as disclosed in the aforementioned patent. Head 10 further includes a pop-up nozzle 26 which is adapted to pop up out of head 10 and spray water thereout as is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,664. In Column 9, lines 20 through 40, of that patent, it is disclosed how the pattern of spray out of nozzle 26 may be varied. Varying the size of the openings in the nozzle 26 would of course vary the quantity of water being sprayed. For example, such nozzles may be varied to spray water thereout in a range of about 1/2 to 20 gallons per minute using different nozzles on the sprinkler head. Further, such nozzle 26 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,664 as rotating while spraying. It is desirable that the rate of rotation of such nozzles be kept within an optimum rate of rotation regardless of the volume of fluid being sprayed thereout, as for example, one every one to three minutes.

Sprinkler head 10, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,664, also includes means for impelling fluids entering line 14 in the form of an impeller or rotor 69 having a plurality of impeller blades 70 spaced thereabout, the planes of blades 70 preferably being angled or inclined from the vertical or curved to assist in the impelling of fluids striking such blades 70. Rotor 69 also may include, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,664, a generally centrally located apertured boss or the like for receiving a pin (not shown) in tight-fitting relationship. This pin couples rotor 69 to transmission means 31, shown in dotted lines, which transmission means 31 is coupled to nozzle 26. Reference should be made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,664 for a complete understanding of the operation of the impeller or rotor 69, pin 72 and the transmission means 31 and the nozzle 26.

As particularly contemplated in the present invention, and as discussed hereinabove, nozzle rotation control means 200 (see particularly FIG. 2) are provided for rotating nozzle 26 at a substantially constant rate of rotation regardless of the flow rate of fluid being dispersed out of nozzle 26. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, such nozzle rotation control means 200 may include valve means 201 movable in a support member 202 which comprises a generally circular disk pressfit or the like into the lower end of inner housing 12 directly below impeller 69. Of course, instead of a disk, member 202 may conform generally to the inner configuration of housing 12. Alternatively, other means may be provided for positioning member 202 in housing 12 in a generally fluid-tight manner.

Member 202 preferably includes a generally circular opening 204 with an integral boss 205 having a throughbore 206 for receiving the valve means 201 therein. As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 5, cross-flanges 207 extend across throughbore 206 (and thus transverse opening 204) for supporting a generally circular ring member 208 at generally the midpoint of throughbore 206 (and thus generally coincident with the center of opening 204). Ring member 208 includes an extension portion 209 extending away from opening 204 and generally coaxial therewith.

Before discussing valve means 201, as particularly contemplated in the present invention, fluid directing means 210, are provided on support member 202 on the side thereof adjacent impeller 69 for directing fluid flowing through opening 204 against blades 70 of impeller 69. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, such fluid directing means 210 preferably includes a plurality of spaced radially extending blades 211 (see particularly FIG. 3) on support member 202 surrounding opening 204. Blades 211 are curved outwardly from the center of the opening 204 having a curvature opposite the curvature or inclination of impeller blades 70. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, each successive blade 211 has a progressively increasing radius of curvature, as for example, from about 0.171 inches to about 0.187 inches. As shown in FIG. 7, each blade 211 may taper from its base 212 to its top 213 from the bottom upwardly, as for example, sides 214, 215 each being at an angle from the vertical of about 3.degree..

Referring again to FIG. 2, as particularly contemplated in the present invention, nozzle rotation control means 200 further includes variable resistance valve means 201 for controlling the flow rate of fluid through opening 204, past fluid directing means 210 and against impeller blades 70. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, such valve means 201 includes a valve stem 221 movable within extension portion 209 terminating at one end in an enlarged stem portion 222 of an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of extension portion 209. A cap or step member 223 is provided at the outer end of stem portion 222 of a diameter slightly greater than stem portion 222 for providing limiting means for limiting movement of valve stem 221 upwardly in FIG. 2 when stem portion 222 abuts against extension portion 209. As can be seen in FIG. 2, this limits the movement of valve member 224, (as shown in FIG. 4), to generally the plane of the upper surface of blades 221. The other end of valve stem 221 terminates in valve member 224. Valve member 224 preferably has generally flat upper and lower surfaces 225, 226 (FIG. 2) and is preferably the same configuration as opening 204. That is, if opening 204 is generally circular, as in the peferred embodiment, valve member 225 is also generally circular. Also, valve member 224 is of a slightly greater diameter than opening 204 to provide a fluid-tight fit, as will be discussed. The peripheral edge 227 of member 224 may be square-shaped, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, to provide both a fluid-tight fit and controllable cracking area when valve member 224 is moved away from opening 204. The peripheral edge of opening 204 may also be square-shaped, as shown. This directs the flow of water radially into blades 70.

Biasing means 228 in the preferred form of a coil spring surrounding extension portion 209, valve stem 221 and stem portion 222, retained thereon between stop member 223 and cross-flanges 207 of boss 205, is provided for normally biasing valve member 224 against opening 204 in a fluid-tight relationship. The resiliency of coil spring 228 may be selected to move valve member 224 at a preset or predetermined pressure drop when fluid is flowing out of nozzle 26, such as about 3 psi.

Finally, a screen member 230 may be disposed between water inlet 13 and control means 200 for filtering out any impurities in the fluid entering inlet 13. As shown in FIG. 2, screen member 230 may be configured to receive the components of control means 200 therein so as to surround the lower end thereof.

In operation, when fluid enters sprinkler head 10 through line 14 and nozzle 26 pops up out of head 10 and begins to rotate, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,664, the force of fluid entering throughbore 206 and opening 204 will act on valve member 224 and against the bias of spring 228 causing valve member 224 to open as shown in FIG. 4. The fluid will be directed by blades 211 against impeller blades 70 which rotates impeller 69 and, via transmission means 31, in turn rotates nozzle 26. When the amount of fluid exiting out of nozzle 26 is varied, as for example, by providing a nozzle having different openings therein on head 10, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,664, a pressure drop will take place at valving means 220. Spring 228 automatically compensates for this change in pressure drop varying the position of valve member 224 with respect to the extent of cracking area opened in opening 204.

Thus, control means 200 compensates for the relatively wide vatiation of water volume that might take place in using nozzles having different rates of flow of fluid thereout. Regardless of such rate of flow, valve means 201 rotates nozzle 26 at a relatively constant rate of speed, e.g., one to three minutes per one complete revolution. Valve means 201 regulates the pressure drop of fluid as it enters sprinkler head 10 past valve member 224 and against impeller 29. The biasing means 228 and the valve components are chosen to give a predetermined or preset pressure drop through valve means 201 regardless of the rate of fluid out of nozzle 26.