Nelson Irrigation Corporation

Jeffrey P Kreitzberg

Robert D Klein

A rate-of-flow control valve assembly actuable as a function of velocity of fluid in a conduit includes a sensing plate projecting into the conduit, substantially perpendicular to a direction of flow in the conduit and a sleeve valve located downstream of the sensing plate. The sleeve valve includes a substantially cylindrical, flexible rubber sleeve surrounded by a control chamber, and an outer rigid sleeve, the flexible sleeve adapted to vary the flow rate of the fluid through the sleeve valve. Also included is a spool valve controller operatively connected to the sensing plate and in communication with the control chamber in the sleeve valve, the spool valve operable to control the flow of fluid into and out of the control chamber as a function of movement of the sensing plate in the conduit.

Rate-of-flow control valve

A nozzle assembly for a sprinkler comprising a rigid structure cooperatively receiving a flat resilient flow control washer in a position such that when the water under pressure is communicated with the upstream side of the washer the periphery of the downstream face remains generally in a retained relative radial position while the remainder is distorted axially in the downstream direction an amount which increases progressively in a direction toward the interior opening of the washer. The washer has an annular stream defining surface at the juncture between its interior opening and its upstream side for engaging the water under pressure communicated with the upstream side of the washer and forming the same into a stream issuing through the opening having a cross-sectional area and velocity which vary inversely with respect to one another depending upon the pressure of the water under pressure communicated with the upstream side of the washer so that the water flow rate within the stream is generally constant within an operative range of pressures. The rigid structure includes an upstream projection portion operable to cause the stream defining surface of the washer when distorted as aforesaid to form at least one annular portion which is disposed axially upstream with respect to another annular portion thereof such that one portion of the stream engaged by the one surface portion has a greater radially outward component of movement as compared with another portion of the stream engaged by the other annular surface portion thus resulting in a greater diffusion of the one stream portion with respect to the other stream portion.

Flow control nozzle

A nozzle assembly for a water sprinkler such as a rotary impact head comprising a generally flat member of wear resistant thermoset elastomeric material having an aperture in the central portion thereof constituting the stream defining orifice of the nozzle and a housing member mounting the elastomeric member and a backing member therefor in a sprinkler in flow transmitting relation to a source of water under pressure communicated therewith. The backing member has a central opening through which the stream defined by the nozzle orifice passes and a surface surrounding the opening facing in a direction opposed to the direction of stream movement operable to engage and support the elastomeric member in a deformed operative condition in which first portions of the flat member defining diametrically opposed portions of the periphery of the aperture thereof are disposed in downstream spaced relation with respect to second portions thereof defining diametrically opposed portions of the periphery of the aperture thereof displaced 90.degree. from the first portions so that the stream as it issues from the aperture of the flat member in the aforesaid deformed condition tends to remain flattened in the direction of the first portions and to fan out in a desirable droplet size in the direction of the second portions.

Growing community of inventors

Walla Walla, WA, United States of America

Jeffrey P Kreitzberg