Rain Bird Corporation

Other

Kevin James Markley

Douglas Scott Richmond

Riccardo James Tresso

Kevin M Irwin

Randy Ray Montgomery

John James Wlassich

Michael Joseph Millius

Chong Wang Kwak

James Alan Elzey

Peter Michael Niess

Daniel Roger St George

Michael A Mcafee

Steven Sharp

Leonard Francisco Challenger

Joe L Romack

Nicholas James Watts

Troy Lynn Roney

Brian C Hoover

Leilanny Bujanda

Paul Gregory Dailey

Pedro Alejandro Raygoza Flores

Zone control devices that integrate a valve, filter, and pressure regulator within a single device are provided. Specifically, the zone control devices include a main body having a base portion with an inlet passage and an outlet passage attachable to a conduit and a body portion extending from the base portion having an interior for receiving a filter. The zone control devices further include a valve bonnet including a solenoid bowl for attaching a solenoid. In some embodiments, an adapter removably couples the valve bonnet to the main body of the zone control device and forms an interface between the valve bonnet and the main body to operate the valve. The zone control devices also may include a pressure regulator in the vent flow path positioned in a vent flow path of the valve bonnet downstream of the solenoid for regulating pressure at the valve. In embodiments, the vent flow path is positioned to vent fluid into the main body downstream of the filter.

Zone control devices, systems and methods

A solenoid adapter for a solenoid valve that permits use of different solenoids with different solenoid bowls is provided. Specifically, a reverse flow solenoid adapter enables use of a reverse flow solenoid with a forward flow solenoid bowl, while a forward flow solenoid adapter enables use of a forward flow solenoid with a reverse flow solenoid bowl. The adapters include a lower section to mount into a valve solenoid bowl, an upper portion including an adapter solenoid chamber to receive a solenoid, and flow-reversing passages that duct a vent passage flow path from the valve solenoid bowl to the adapter solenoid chamber such that the flow path transitions from a flow configuration of the valve solenoid bowl to a flow configuration required for the solenoid to function and returns to the flow configuration of the valve solenoid bowl as the path circulates back to the valve solenoid bowl.

Solenoid adapter

In one aspect, there is disclosed a solenoid having a bobbin with a core wire positioned about the bobbin to form a coil. A power supply wire is connected an end of the core wire and a frame is connected to the bobbin. An overmolded housing surrounds the core wire, the frame and a portion of the power supply wire.

Solenoid apparatus and methods of assembly

There is provided an irrigation valve with embedded rings for reinforcement of valve ports. The valve has a valve body and threaded flow paths, the flow paths including an outlet and an inlet on opposite sides of the valve body. Irrigation piping is attached to the inlet and to the outlet. The reinforcement rings at the inlet and the outlet prevent fracturing of the valve body and/or piping due to overtightening of the piping. Further provided is a scrubber for an irrigation valve. The scrubber and frees debris on a filter. The scrubber may be manually extracted for maintenance or replacement without the need for mechanical tools.

Valve with reinforcement ports and manually removable scrubber

A solenoid is provided having an improved connection arrangement. The solenoid includes external wires that are coupled to internal solenoid components via terminals. Further, a sealed solenoid is provided having a housing overmolded onto a solenoid subassembly. External wires can be coupled to the solenoid after overmolding. The solenoid may also include a cavity for receiving at least one of electrical component. The solenoid may also include a powdered metal core.

Solenoid and method of manufacture

A rotary sprinkler is provided that includes a housing having a riser assembly and a rotatable nozzle turret on an upper end of the riser assembly. The sprinkler includes an arc setting assembly that enables part-circle operation of the turret and a selector assembly that permits selection of either part-circle or full-circle operation of the nozzle turret where the components of the selector assembly are generally separate from the components of the arc setting assembly.

Arc adjustable rotary sprinkler having full-circle operation

An irrigation sprinkler nozzle for use in a rotary sprinkler for projecting the entire fluid stream between about 15 and about 35 feet from the rotary sprinkler regardless of the upstream pressure. The irrigation sprinkler nozzle comprises a nozzle body having a longitudinal axis, a side wall, and an exit wall. Coupled to the nozzle body is a restrictor plate that is spaced from the exit wall. Defined by the side wall, the exit wall, and the restrictor plate is a fluid chamber. The nozzle includes an inlet to the chamber defined by the restrictor plate. Preferably, the inlet has a cross-sectional area so that a pressure inside the chamber is less than a pressure upstream of the inlet. The nozzle also has an outlet from the chamber defined by the exit wall for projecting a fluid stream outwardly from the irrigation sprinkler nozzle. The chamber may be configured to form a turbulent flow within the chamber.

Rotary irrigation sprinkler nozzle

A sprinkler is disclosed for improved flow characteristics. The sprinkler has a sprinkler head rotatably supported for distributing water and defining a flow channel for directing water flow therethrough with reduced head loss. The flow channel has a smoothly tapered portion for receiving water and channeling the water towards an outlet in communication with a first nozzle for distributing the water. The flow channel with reduced head loss produces a greater throw distance at a lower trajectory with a lower flow rate and pressure. The flow channel may be formed within a flow channel member positioned within the sprinkler head. The flow channel member may cooperate with the sprinkler head to define a cavity allowing water to pass through the cavity from the flow channel for emission from a plurality of other nozzles.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Kevin James Markley