Rain Bird Consumer Products Mfg. Corp.

Other

Anthony Manufacturing Corp.

George H Lockwood

David E Robertson

Timothy C Sexton

Joseph D Mason

Mark J Mattson

Robert W Patterson

Samuel C Walker

Kenneth V McCarthy

Raymond P Feith

A flow control assembly regulates the flow of water from a shower head independently from the normal valving system. A control valve is located upstream of the shower head, as seen in the water flow direction, and is operated by a conveniently located pilot valve.

Shower control assembly

An improved rotary drive sprinkler is provided for rotatably driving a pop-up spray head in a stepwise manner through a full-circle or reversibly within a selected part-circle path. The sprinkler includes a reversing trip mechanism having a pair of spaced-apart stops rotatable with the spray head and defining preset end limits of a part-circle path, wherein a stationary trip wire is engageable with the stops to switch an internal rotary drive assembly, such as a ball drive assembly, between forward- and reverse-drive operation. The trip wire flexes to accommodate forced spray head rotation to a maladjusted position beyond the end limits and, upon subsequent sprinkler operation, rides over ramped surfaces on the stops for automatic return to reversible operation between the preset end limits. Alternatively, the stops can be set in side-by-side relation with their ramped surfaces oriented for the trip wire to ride resiliently thereover without switching of the rotary drive assembly. Positional adjustment of the stops is performed quickly and easily from the exterior of the sprinkler after which a vandal-resistant lock device can be installed to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized stop adjustment. In addition, flow of irrigation water through the sprinkler is regulated to obtain improved control over spray head rotational speed irrespective of water pressure and spray head nozzle size.

Rotary drive sprinkler

A rotating stream sprinkler is provided with an improved spray head for sweeping one or more outwardly projected water streams through a prescribed arcuate spray path, wherein the spray head is adapted for enhanced self-flushing operation to prevent accumulation of grit and the like which could otherwise impair sprinkler performance. In the preferred form, the spray head is mounted at the upper end of a pop-up stem for movement to an elevated spraying position upon supply of water under pressure to the sprinkler. The water flows to the spray head and normally pressure-loads a plurality of valve balls onto a respective plurality of seats to prevent water flow through the seats to associated nozzle passages. A drive assembly rotates the spray head relative to a nonrotating cam positioned to lift one or more of the valve balls from their respective seats to permit outward discharge of one or more water streams through the nozzle passages, within the limits of the prescribed arcuate path. In a preferred construction, the drive assembly includes a rotatable turbine driven by water inflow to the sprinkler and further includes drive balls for rotating the spray head in a stepwise manner. The turbine is also designed for improved operational reliability particularly when used with water having a significant amount of grit particles therein.

Rotating stream sprinkler

An improved rotary drive sprinkler is provided for rotatably driving a pop-up spray head in a stepwise manner through a full-circle or reversibly within a selected part-circle path. The sprinkler includes a reversing trip mechanism having a pair of spaced-apart stops rotatable with the spray head and defining preset end limits of a part-circle path, wherein a stationary trip wire is engageable with the stops to switch an internal rotary drive assembly, such as a ball drive assembly, between forward- and reverse-drive operation. The trip wire flexes to accommodate forced spray head rotation to a maladjusted position beyond the end limits and, upon subsequent sprinkler operation, rides over ramped surfaces on the stops for automatic return to reversible operation between the reset end limits. Alternatively, the stops can be set in side-by-side relation with their ramped surfaces oriented for the trip wire to ride resiliently thereover without switching of the rotary drive assembly. Positional adjustment of the stops is performed quickly and easily from the exterior of the sprinkler after which a vandal-resistant lock device can be installed to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized stop adjustment. In addition, flow of irrigation water through the sprinkler is regulated to obtain improved control over spray head rotational speed irrespective of water pressure and spray head nozzle size.

An improved sequencing valve of the type having a valve disk mounted within a valve housing for reciprocating and indexing movement between an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports to couple a water supply line in sequence with a plurality of outlet conduits in response to turning on and off of a water supply. The valve disk has a flow opening therein which is closed by a spring-biased control valve when the water supply is turned on such that the valve disk is responsive to a relatively low and selected fluid pressure for movement to a position seated over the outlet ports with the flow opening in alignment with one of the outlet ports whereupon the control valve opens with increasing fluid pressure to permit water flow to the aligned outlet port. When the water supply is turned off, the control valve closes the flow opening, and water within the housing at the upstream side of the valve disk is discharged through a bleed port to a different outlet port thereby relieving back pressure on the valve disk and insuring spring-assisted movement away from the outlet ports. In a preferred form, an externally exposed selector dial moves with the valve disk to provide an externally visible indication of valve disk position with respect to the outlet ports, wherein this selector dial can be rotated when the water supply is off, to select the next outlet port to be coupled with the supply line.

Sequencing valve

A water sprinkler includes a turbine drive assembly responsive to water under pressure supplied to the sprinkler for moving a spray head through a prescribed rotational path. The turbine drive assembly drives an incremental motion mechanism coupled to the spray head for rotating the spray head between a plurality of angularly spaced stationary positions, and for maintaining the spray head in each stationary position for a time period sufficient to achieve maximum trajected range of water from the spray head. A reversing assembly can be provided for repeatedly reversing the direction of spray head rotation within a prescribed arcuate path, and the reversing assembly includes means for varying the angular locations of the stationary positions of the spray head upon successive reversals of spray head movement.

Turbine drive water sprinkler

A sprinkler having a radially dynamically balanced intermittent drive system to provide a rotating sprinkler head generally free of all objectionable vibrations. The drive system in a preferred embodiment includes a plurality of driven surface means connected to the sprinkler head and an impact drive means rotatably positioned in the sprinkler body. The fluid driven impact drive means includes a striker carrier positioned in the sprinkler body and at least two independent striker means, preferrably balls, positioned symmetrically by the striker carrier to engage the driven surface means.

Growing community of inventors

Wilton Manors, FL, United States of America

George H Lockwood