The Toro Company

John L Staylor

Stephen L Tyler

Jeff R McKenzie

James W Zimmerman

Michael J Grundy

Glendale Grizzle

Wilson V Cochran

Rebecca R Reade

A gear drive assembly for a rotary sprinkler includes a drive housing in which a reduction gear train is enclosed. A turbine located beneath one end of the drive housing rotates the gear train through a turbine shaft that extends into the drive housing. An output shaft extends out of the other end of the drive housing for rotating the nozzle assembly of the rotary sprinkler. The drive assembly includes a relatively large water entry port which is screened by a filter screen having relatively small openings. The water entry port allow enough water to enter the drive housing upon initial pressurization of the sprinkler such that sand particles suspended in the water do not jam the output shaft or the turbine shaft. The openings in the filter screen prevent the entry of particles into the drive housing that would tend to jam or foul the reduction gear train.

Rotary sprinkler drive assembly with filter screen

A planetary gear drive assembly for a rotary sprinkler includes a drive housing in which a planetary gear train is enclosed. A turbine located beneath one end of the drive housing rotates the gear train through a turbine shaft that extends into the drive housing. An output shaft extends out of the other end of the drive housing for rotating the nozzle assembly of the rotary sprinkler. The drive assembly includes an alignment means for causing the planetary gears in each stage of the gear train to self align the planetary gears relative to an internal ring gear on the drive housing as each stage is slid into the drive housing during assembly. The alignment means comprises a stepped extension on a forward edge of the ring gear that extends around only a portion of the circumference of the ring gear.

Planetary gear drive assembly

An adjustable arc sprinkler nozzle comprises a nozzle body which has a plurality of radial channels for forming radial streams out of water flowing into the nozzle from a sprinkler body to which the nozzle is joined. A crown shaped deflector member includes a plurality of vertically extending fingers which operatively coact with the radial nozzle channels to restrict the amount of water flowing therethrough. A selectively operable adjusting member is cooperatively engaged with the deflecting member for moving the deflecting member vertically relative to the nozzle body to vary the position of the fingers relative to the channels to change the amount of water restriction imposed by the fingers on the water flowing through the channels, whereby the throw radius is selectively adjusted by vertical movement of the deflecting member.

Adjustable radius sprinkler nozzle

A sprinkler (10, 10') including a riser assembly (14) and a removable nozzle module (34) operatively connected thereto. Nozzle module (34) includes a nozzle holder (36, 36') and a nozzle (38). Nozzle holder (36, 36') is accessible even when sprinkler (10) is buried and the riser assembly (14) is completely retracted. In a preferred embodiment, a bayonet fit exists between nozzle module (34) and riser assembly (14) so that it is only necessary to twist nozzle module (34) a few degrees to disconnect it from riser assembly (14). Once nozzle module (34) is removed, nozzle (38) can be replaced or unplugged as necessary. Sprinkler (10') preferably includes a security cover (77) which, when in place, prevents access to nozzle module (34) and prevents removal of same from the riser assembly rotating portion (30).

Sprinkler nozzle module

An improved rain switch includes a tubular L-shaped housing having an enclosed compartment in one arm in which an electrical switch is contained and an apertured compartment in the other arm in which a moisture absorptive assembly is contained. When mounted on a building with the apertured arm parallel to the ground, the electrical switch will be located to one side of the apertured arm and is not prone to coming into contact with any of the rain water passing through the device. Thus, a non-sealed electrical switch can be used. In addition, the housing is snap fit to the building and the electrical switch is releasably contained on a slide member received in the housing to ease switch replacement. A cover also hides a threaded adjusting cap to prevent unauthorized adjustment for how much water is required to be absorbed before the electrical switch is actuated.

Growing community of inventors

Riverside, CA, United States of America

John L Staylor