Nelson Irrigation Corporation

Nelson Irrigation Corporaton

Project 088 LLC

Craig B Nelson

George L Sesser

Chad Daniel Leinweber

Riley D Greenwood

Joseph Daniel Sinden

Lee A Perkins

Barton R Nelson

Reid A Nelson

Mathew L Zimmerman

Rex Daniel Ness

Meade M Neal

Steven E Crawford

Mark A Bauman

Cliff Paul Ungerecht

Michael R Townsend

Paul D Davisson

Robert L Rupar

Andrew B Hellie

Richard L Schisler

Patrick T Barry

Richard John Berrier

Sean M Scott

Loren Vander Griend

Michael Youngberg

Larry P Meyer

Travis A Griggs

Theodore J Bren

Frederick J Sweet

Fred J Sweet

Christina R Butler

Tom J Young

Richard J Berrier

Robert Rupar

A sprinkler controller is cooperable with a sprinkler assembly that receives fluid input from a pipe span. The sprinkler controller includes a microcontroller circuit, a motion sensor coupled with the microcontroller circuit, and a valve assembly including a modulator coupled with the microcontroller circuit and a valve coupled with the sprinkler assembly. The valve meters or controls an amount of fluid output from the sprinkler assembly, and the microcontroller circuit is programmed to control the valve assembly based on input from the motion sensor. With a series of sprinkler controllers in a center pivot irrigation system, the drop numbers for each of the sprinkler assemblies can be determined based on input from the motion sensors.

Variable rate irrigation using motion sensor

A sprinkler nozzle is configured for a sprinkler positioned at a distal end of a center pivot irrigation system. The sprinkler nozzle includes a connection part securable to the sprinkler, and a nozzle opening downstream of the connection part. A nozzle opening downstream of the connection part is part-toroidal shaped and partially blocked or skewed to control water flow to portions of the deflector plate according to a desired wetted area. The part-toroidal shape spans an arc less than 360 degrees. The nozzle enables a custom designed water application to complement the other sprinklers that are on the pivot and can be shaped to also apply water a distance beyond the end of the pivot pipe to match the application rate of the sprinklers along the pivot pipe.

Nozzle and sprinkler for center pivot end

An automatic reversible arc assembly for a sprinkler includes a pair of primary stop members circumferentially spaced from each other by a first amount, and a pair of secondary stop members circumferentially spaced from each other by a second amount, different from the first amount. The primary stop members and the secondary stop members are coupled together and define a pivot assembly pivotable between a first position and a second position. A timer module cooperable with the pivot assembly is configured to hold the pivot assembly in the first position for a selectable period of time, after which the timer module enables the pivot assembly to pivot to the second position. The primary stop members are active in the first position, and the secondary stop members are active in the second position.

Automatic reversible arc sprinkler

A rigid mount orbitor sprinkler assembly incorporates a deflector plate configuration that is configured for both spinning/rotating motion as well as orbital or wobbling motion around the center of a spool assembly. The sprinkler incorporates structure to reduce drool that may fall in a concentrated area below the sprinkler and to prevent debris from sandy water or the like from accelerating sprinkler component wear. With reduced vibration, the assembly may be rigidly mounted on a center pivot or other supporting structure while achieving the advantages associated with wobbling and rotating sprinkler assemblies.

Rigid mount orbitor sprinkler

A flow control device includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet and a flow conduit disposed in the housing. The inlet, the flow conduit, and the outlet define a flow passage. A valve seat is disposed in the housing downstream of the inlet, and a shuttle is movably disposed in the housing and displaceable between a closed position engaging the valve seat to close the flow passage and an open position spaced from the valve seat to open the flow passage. A sealed chamber is defined between the housing and the flow conduit. A port coupled with a source of pressurized fluid communicates with the sealed chamber, where the shuttle is displaceable between the closed position and the open position based on a pressure in the sealed chamber. The threshold water pressure for displacing the flow conduit may be adjustable by modifying the pressure in the sealed chamber.

Multi-function pressure regulation valve

A quick connect coupler includes a female connector having a central bore and a plurality of recesses, and a male connector having a post insertable into the central bore. The male connector has a first tab row with a plurality of first tabs and a second tab row with a plurality of second tabs axially spaced from the plurality of first tabs. The first and second tabs are shaped corresponding to the recesses in the female connector. The first and second tab rows are circumferentially offset to effect a two- or multi-step connection between the female connector and the male connector.

Quick connect coupler

A sprinkler includes a pop-up deflector plate that is engageable with a brake assembly in an extended position. A brake module is secured to a sprinkler body and includes a rotatable connector coupled with the brake assembly. The pop-up deflector plate is disposed adjacent the nozzle and engages the rotatable connector in the extended position.

Sprinkler with modular components and pop up deflector with lug(s) for rotational engagement

A packaging/inspection system is provided for a nozzle pivot package including a collection of nozzles in various nozzle sizes. The packaging/inspection system includes a shelf assembly with a plurality of compartments, an operator load track, a verification section downstream of the operator load track, a marking section downstream of the verification section, and an operator unload track downstream of the marking section. Each compartment may store nozzles of a specific nozzle size. Features of the shelf assembly alert the operator as to which compartment should be accessed and how many nozzles from the compartment are required.

Packaging/inspection system for a nozzle pivot package

A pressure regulator including: a housing including an inlet flow passage and an outlet flow passage; a plunger reciprocally mounted in the housing and including a plunger flow passage; an inlet to the plunger flow passage, wherein the inlet is aligned with a plane oblique to an axis of the plunger flow passage; and a valve seat fixed to the housing and positioned between the inlet flow passage and the inlet to the flow passage of the plunger, wherein the valve seat is configured to receive and abut the inlet to the flow passage of the plunger.

Pressure regulator having an oblique valve seat

A weighted inverted sprinkler assembly adapted for use with a drop hose of an irrigation system is disclosed. The assembly comprises a coiled weight formed from a coiled wire, a sprinkler fluidly associated with the drop hose, and a coiled weight support structure. A pressure regulator may be provided in fluid associated with the irrigation drop hose and the sprinkler. The coiled weight has a shape that is selected for use with a particular sprinkler assembly. The shape may be an elongated shape for use with an elongated coiled weight support structure, a beehive shape for use with a pressure regulator having a collar to support the coiled weight, and a pear shape for use with a pressure regulator having a flared housing. The coiled weight is preferably formed from a single coiled wire although two or more weights may be used in combination in a given application.

Sprinkler assembly having coiled weight

Sprinkler with modular components and pop-up deflector

A sprinkler body for a rotating sprinkler includes a base securable to a source of water under pressure, a plurality of support struts connected to and extending from the base, and a deflector plate support connected to the plurality of support struts and disposed spaced from the base by the support struts. At least one of the plurality of support struts is wedge-shaped with an inward-facing apex. The support struts are configured to create a void in the water spray pattern away from a center pivot pipe and to direct the water spray downward to limit the effect of wind on the spray pattern.

Cage design with modified struts including oriented fins

A pressure regulator () including: a housing () including a flow passage (); a plunger () configured to move within the housing, wherein the plunger is hollow and has a plunger passage () included in the flow passage; a valve seat () in the housing and disposed in the flow passage immediately upstream of an inlet () to the plunger passage; a shuttle () within the housing configured to move between an upstream-most position at which the shuttle abuts the valve seat to close the flow passage and a downstream position displaced from the valve seat which opens the flow passage; a sealed chamber () within the housing and between the plunger and the shuttle, wherein the sealed chamber is configured to be operated at pressures other than at atmospheric pressure; and a port () in the housing and open to the sealed chamber, wherein the port is configured to be connected to a source () of a pressurized fluid.

A gooseneck pipe includes a first pipe half having a first radiused centerline curve, and a second pipe half fixed to the first pipe half and having a second radiused centerline curve. The first and second pipe halves define a flow path. Cross-sectional diameters of the first and second pipe halves vary along the flow path. The varying diameters of the first and second pipe halves serve to mitigate pressure losses due in part to Dean vortices or secondary flow patterns in the flow path when a fluid is turned in the gooseneck pipe.

Growing community of inventors

Walla Walla, WA, United States of America

Craig B Nelson