Rain Bird Corporation

Bradley D Helzer

Jonathan Yeh

Kirk Andrew Allen

Mona-Lisa Alexander

Christopher Marshal Kee

John E Thompson

Lino De Los Santos

An irrigation sprinkler is provided having a turret for the distribution of irrigation water that includes a self-flushing mechanism to prevent accumulation of debris in a sprinkler control member and/or the interior of the turret. The sprinkler includes a main flow path that delivers water to a nozzle for irrigation and a secondary flow path that delivers water to flush part of the member and/or interior of the turret. The secondary flow path delivers water when the sprinkler cycles on and when the sprinkler cycles off. For example, with a pop-up sprinkler, the secondary flow path would deliver fluid sometime during its movement to the elevated position and movement to the retracted position.

Self-flushing sprinkler mechanism

A sprinkler that restricts foreign particulate matter from interfering with and/or damaging the operating components of a sprinkler is disclosed. The sprinkler may be a pop-up sprinkler such that the outlet or nozzle is not in a fixed position and is moved from a position above the ground to a position generally below or flush with the ground. To prevent particulate matter from entering, such as through the nozzle or outlet, when the flow of water is shut off, the sprinkler may include a protective member located within the sprinkler head to prevent the particulate matter from have an undesirable effect. The protective member forms a one-way obstruction that permits flow to the nozzle and obstructs flow back into the sprinkler such that particulate matter in the water beyond the protective member is restricted from coming in contact with the internal operating components of the sprinkler. The protective member may be a resiliently deformable flap or a hinged flap.

Internal particulate protective obstruction for sprinklers

A slip-clutch assembly including a slip gear and clutch for a sprinkler motor of a sprinkler is disclosed for reducing damage to movable portions of the sprinkler is disclosed. The slip-clutch assembly allows at least a portion of a motor assembly or a sprinkler head to rotate at a rate lower than under normal operating conditions. The slip-clutch assembly includes a first component or portion with deformable portions received under normal operating conditions within recesses or cooperating structure of a second component or portion. The deformable portions are able to release or slip from the cooperating structure when the rotation of a portion of the sprinkler is impeded by a force exceeding a predetermined level. The deformable portions of the slip-clutch assembly may include deflectable arms with an engageable portion received within the cooperating structure. The engageable portion may dis-engage by camming out of the cooperating structure when the impeding force exceeds the predetermined level.

Slip gear for geared sprinkler motor

A multi-diameter tube coupling is provided for interconnecting flexible plastic tubing of the type used in drip irrigation systems and the like, wherein the tube coupling is adapted for use with a range of different tubing sizes. The tube coupling includes a central body defining an internal flow path, with a retainer collet mounted thereon at each open end of the flow path to capture a seal member having a compliant, pressure-activated seal lip. The retainer collet includes an annular array of lock fingers for unidirectional slide-fit locked reception of one end of a length of tubing within a range of different sizes, with the seal lip engaging the tubing to provide a substantially leak-proof connection. Alternatively, the collet lock fingers accommodate slide-fit locked reception of a barbed swivel adapter, with the seal lip engaging the adapter to provide a substantially leak-proof connection.

Growing community of inventors

Ontario, CA, United States of America

Bradley D Helzer