Abstract:
A sprinkler comprising a body portion having a nozzle at one end and a cap assembly supported thereon at an opposite end, the cap assembly supporting a spray plate located downstream of the nozzle, the spray plate having a plurality of stream distributing grooves formed on one side thereof configured to cause the spray plate to rotate when struck by a stream emitted from the nozzle; and wherein the spray plate includes a mounting shaft extending from the spray plate and having a part spherical head received within a bearing cage in the cap assembly, the bearing cage including a bearing separator holding a plurality of ball bearings in a substantially horizontal array arranged about a longitudinal center axis of the sprinkler, the part spherical head located centrally above and in engagement with the plurality of ball bearings, thereby permitting the spray plate to wobble as it rotates.
Abstract:
A flow through fluid pressure regulator includes a spring biased plunger which is normally biased away from a plunger seat in the direction of fluid flow to provide maximum flow under normal conditions. In the event of a pressure surge, the movement of the plunger in the opposite direction to decrease flow is controlled by a damper. Specifically, the plunger is formed with a radially outwardly facing groove or damper chamber at its downstream end, and into which a resilient O-ring is loosely fitted. This downstream end of the plunger moves within a reduced diameter bore portion of the regulator housing which, in turn, communicates with a diaphragm chamber formed in a larger diameter portion of the housing. The diaphragm chamber surrounds the plunger and is further defined by a flexible diaphragm fixed at an inner radial edge to the plunger and at an outer radial edge to a stationary sleeve in the housing. The outer diameters of the radially outwardly extending flanges which form the O-ring groove or damper chamber, and the loose fit of the O-ring within the groove, permit water to flow past the groove and into the diaphragm chamber in a controlled manner. In an alternative arrangement, the damper chamber and O-ring are located in the housing surrounding the plunger.
Abstract:
A part-circle sprinkler head preferably of the pressure compensating quick return type in which the reactant structure on the reversing arm is provided with a coanda-effect surface which aids in moving the reactant structure into the stream. The mechanism for disengaging the reactant structure of the reversing arm from the stream minimizes reliance upon inertia to effect the disengagement function by utilizing a secondary reactant element. The spring mechanism which stably maintains the reversing arm in its inoperative position is interrelated with the reversing arm so that the torque applied thereto diminishes as the reversing arm moves toward its operative position within the stream.
Abstract:
A rotary sprinkler head comprising a sprinkler body devoid of any operative dynamic seals for communicating a source of water under pressure with an outlet for directing water under pressure communicated therewith into an atmospheric condition in a primary stream having a generally vertically extending axis. A rotary distributor is provided which has surfaces for engaging the primary stream (1) to establish a reactionary force component acting on the distributor in a direction tangential to the rotational axis thereof so as to effect rotational movement thereof about its axis of rotation and (2) to direct the primary stream engaged thereby in the form of a pattern forming stream or streams including at least one stream moving away from the distributor in a direction having a substantial component extending outwardly from the generally vertical axis of the primary stream so as to define the radius of the circular spray pattern. A speed reducing assembly is operatively associated with the distributor for reducing the rotational speed of the distributor resulting from the reactionary force component from a relatively high whirling speed which would occur without the speed reducing assembly to a relatively slow speed.
Abstract:
An assembly for irrigating at water pressure below 10 psi comprising a sprinkler head for discharging water at a desired discharge pressure below 10 psi onto a site to be irrigated, a pressure chamber for delivering a supply of water at a supply flow rate and at a supply pressure greater than the discharge flow rate and the discharge pressure, a container structure for containing a volume of water in communication with the sprinkler head having a free surface communicating with atmosphere disposed at a level above the sprinkler head a height generally corresponding to the desired discharge pressure, and a float valve mechanism for introducing water from the pressure chamber into the container structure sufficient to maintain the free surface of the volume of water contained therein generally at the aforesaid level.
Abstract:
A sprinkler head having a reversing mechanism cooperable with spaced cam assemblies for effecting part circle mode operation in which the cam element of one of the cam assemblies is selectively movable by a spring pressed over center toggle linkage between two positions, one of which causes the sprinkler head to operate in a part circle mode and other of which causes the sprinkler head to operate in a full circle mode.
Abstract:
A sprinkler device comprising a sprinkler body having a longitudinal center axis, an inlet at one end and an outlet nozzle at an opposite end; and a rotor plate supported axially spaced and laterally offset from the outlet nozzle; the rotor plate mounted for orbital motion about the longitudinal axis and for rotation about a second axis offset from the longitudinal center axis, the rotor plate having grooves formed therein arranged to cause the distribution plate to rotate about the second axis when a stream emitted from the nozzle impinges on the plate, which, in turn, causes the rotor plate to orbit about the longitudinal center axis.
Abstract:
Drip tape for below or above ground irrigation includes a sheet of material formed into a tube by overlapping opposite side edges of the sheet and bonding the side edges along a longitudinal seam thereby forming a primary flow path. A strip of transparent material is bonded to an interior surface of the sheet prior to seaming, at a location remote from the longitudinal seam so as to define, in combination with the tape wall, a plurality of secondary flow paths within the primary flow path. Each secondary flow path includes an inlet region, a turbulence inducing region and an outlet region; the inlet region including a plurality of inlets in the second strip connecting the primary flow path to the secondary flow path upstream of the turbulence inducing region; the outlet region including an outlet in the tube connecting the secondary flow path to atmosphere downstream of the turbulence inducing region.
Abstract:
A large capacity agricultural irrigation sprinkler head of the rotary step by step impulse type operating in a part-circle mode with a step by step reversing movement. The sprinkler head embodies an improved sprinkler body including an elongated barrel leading to the outlet having a longitudinal axis intersecting (1) at an included angle greater than 90.degree. with the rotational axis of the sprinkler body and (2) at an angle of 90.degree. with the pivotal axis of the impulse arm assembly at a position spaced outwardly in a downstream direction from the intersection thereof with the sprinkler body rotational axis. The impulse arm is mounted by a yoke pivotally mounted on the barrel about an axis constituting the pivotal axis of the impuse arm for movement between first and second operating positions corresponding to the first and second operating positions of the impulse arm and pivotally connecting with the impulse arm about an axis constituting the oscillating axis of the impulse arm. The oscillating axis of the impulse arm is disposed above the longitudinal axis of the barrel and spaced outwardly of the yoke pivotal axis in a downstream direction.