Rain Bird Corporation

Michael Albert McAfee

Gokhan Aydar

Peter Michael Niess

Daniel Roger St George

Cesar A Gomez

Sarath Chandran

Saul Le-Garcia Rodolfo

Matthew Nugent Christensen

Charles Daniel Lemme

John E Price

Matthew S Prucinsky

Randy Ray Montgomery

Riccardo James Tresso

Michael Joseph Millius

Derek Michael Nations

Bradley H Dolbin

Patrick J Hibbs

Parthiv A Rajgor

Jiangjiang Dai

Jeffrey Glenn Johnson

Noel Perez

Jerry D Lawyer

John W Ingham, Jr

David E Steimle

A multi-mode sprinkler adjustable for part or full circle operation to irrigate a selected area is provided. The sprinkler includes a nozzle for dispensing fluid, a set of gears for rotating the nozzle and an arc setting mechanism that cooperates with the set of gears. The arc setting mechanism comprises a fixed trip for switching to a first direction for the nozzle and an adjustable trip movable relative to the fixed trip for setting an arc of rotation for the nozzle in the part circle mode. The arc setting mechanism also includes a toggle for engaging the fixed trip and the adjustable to switch between a first direction and a second direction when in the part circle mode. In the full circle mode, the adjustable trip overlaps at least in part the fixed trip, such that the fixed trip deflects the toggle radially inward, allowing continuous rotation of the nozzle.

Multi-mode rotor sprinkler apparatus and method

A pressure regulation device and method are provided for reducing fluid flow. The device may be disposed within a stem of a sprinkler, within the nozzle filter or other appropriate location within the sprinkler. The device may be a single piece structure that is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material. The device has a body with slots that form sidewalls, which are configured to move relative to each other and deflect relative to a neutral state. The amount of movement relative to each other from the neutral state causes a reduction in pressure of the fluid exiting the regulator.

Pressure regulation device and method for irrigation sprinklers

Some embodiments provide irrigation generator systems that include a main conduit comprising an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit; a flow control system positioned within the main conduit; a generator conduit comprising a generator inlet conduit and a generator outlet conduit, wherein the generator inlet conduit is fluidly coupled with the main conduit upstream of the flow control system, the generator outlet conduit is fluidly coupled with the main conduit downstream of the flow control system; and a generator comprising a rotor assembly cooperated with generator conduit to be physically activated by a flow of fluid through the generator conduit causing rotation of the rotor assembly and generates electrical power. The flow control system transitions between a closed state to the open state in response to a water pressure exceeding a pressure threshold.

Self-powered irrigation systems, generator systems and methods of controlling irrigation

An irrigation device is provided with an indicator that may be converted to indicate a condition, such as use with non-potable fluid. The irrigation device includes an inlet, and outlet, and a body defining a flow path from the inlet to the outlet. It further includes a cover with a removable section, and an indicator at least partially under the removable cover. The indicia indicate a condition of the irrigation device, such as being used with non-potable fluid. In one state, the cover is intact and the indicia are not exposed. In another state, the removable section has been removed and the indicia are at least partially exposed.

Non-potable conversion indicator and irrigation device

There is provided a filter for a diaphragm valve. The filter attaches to a diaphragm of the valve and filters fluid entering a control chamber in the valve. The filter includes internal structure that increases the path from where fluid enters the filter through a mesh of holes to a single exit flow path leading to the control chamber. This increased path reduces the potential for debris in the flow to clog the exit flow path from the filter.

Diaphragm filter

There is provided a turf cup assembly that attaches to a buried pop-up type sprinkler to blend a top of sprinkler both cosmetically and functionally with turf surrounding the sprinkler. The turf cup assembly includes a turf cup and a sleeve. The turf cup mounts to a riser of the pop-up type sprinkler. The turf cup contains soil and root structure of turf. The sleeve surrounds the turf cup and attaches to a top of a housing of a pop-up sprinkler. The sleeve can be at or slightly below grade, and the cup extends out of the sleeve during an irrigation cycle and retracts into the sleeve at the end of the irrigation cycle.

Turf system for sprinklers

A sprinkler housing having a side inlet with improved strength and durability is disclosed. The housing includes an inlet opening having a shape configured to position regions of peak stress concentration on the housing side walls, upon the sprinkler housing being filled with a pressurized fluid, circumferentially spaced from the upper and lower central points of the inlet opening to provide a more robust sprinkler housing.

Sprinkler housing having a side inlet to reduce stress concentrations thereat

An irrigation sprinkler is provided having a housing and a riser assembly for the distribution of irrigation water that includes a wiper seal to prevent bypass flow. The sprinkler includes a first flow path that delivers water to a nozzle for irrigation and a second flow path that delivers water to a cavity between the riser assembly and the housing. The water in the cavity is substantially prevented from exiting the cavity because of an annular wiper blade and a secondary sealing blade that substantially contact the riser assembly through the riser assembly's reciprocal movement between retracted and elevated positions. The water in the cavity is additionally prevented from exiting the cavity due to a primary sealing blade that substantially contacts the riser assembly for a limited period of time when the riser assembly is in the elevated position. By limiting the period of time in which the primary sealing blade contacts the riser assembly, the primary sealing blade experiences less friction and seal degradation during reciprocation.

Irrigation device

A turbine for a sprinkler is disclosed for self-governing its rotational velocity. As a rate of fluid through the sprinkler increases, particularly when air is used to flush the sprinkler system, a portion of the turbine shifts outwardly so as to decrease alignment of vanes located thereon with directed water streams for controlling the rotation of the turbine.

Speed control apparatus for a rotary sprinkler

An improved gear drive sprinkler has a pop-up spray head adapted for adjustable part-circle or full circle operation to deliver irrigation water over a selected terrain area. The sprinkler includes a pop-up riser; a gear drive transmission mounted within the riser includes a water-driven turbine for rotatably driving a speed reduction gear train, which in turn rotatably drives the spray head. A reverse assembly includes an upper trip unit defining an individually adjustable pair of end trip stops, and a lower shift mechanism including a shiftable director plate having first and second sets of angularly oriented jet nozzles for respective alignment with turbine jet ports for respectively driving the water-driven turbine and the gear train in a forward-drive or a reverse-drive direction. The upper trip is coupled to the director plate by an elongated trip rod which shifts the director plate between forward-drive and reverse drive positions. An adjustment cam can be manipulated to disable at least one of the end trip stops to permit spray head rotation through continuous full circle revolutions.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Michael Albert McAfee