Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.

Michael Cherundolo

Charles A McMillen

A reaction drive sprinkler including an improved drive nozzle assembly for rotating the sprinkler in steps about a water supply standpipe. The drive nozzle assembly comprises a fixed drive nozzle through which an inclined stream of irrigation water is projected for passage through a diverter tube mounted in front of the drive nozzle for movement between forward- and reverse-drive positions. The diverter tube is shifted between the forward- and reverse-drive positions by a spring-loaded, over-center reversing mechanism for slightly diverting the water stream for alternated interruption by a pair of laterally oppositely angled deflector spoons on a pivoting reaction drive arm. More particularly, the diverter tube directs the water stream for cyclic interruption by one of the deflector spoons to rotate the sprinkler stepwise in a forward rotational direction through a selected arcuate path and then shifts the diverter tube to direct the water stream for interruption by the other deflector spoon for stepwise sprinkler rotation in the reverse direction. Axially offset surface discontinuities within the diverter tube interact with the water stream to impart laterally directed forces to the diverter tube during movement between the forward- and reverse-drive positions to prevent the diverter tube from stalling in a neutral or centered position.

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Upland, CA, United States of America

Michael Cherundolo