(NOT APPLICABLE)
The invention relates to a modular industrial sprinkler including a pop-up deflector and, more particularly, to a selectively configurable sprinkler assembly with a pop-up deflector that is operable as a rotator or a spinner.
Industrial sprinklers with exposed nozzles may be prone to clogging due to debris that may collect in or around the nozzle. Blocked nozzles detrimentally affect sprinkler patterns and are time-consuming to clean and maintain. Debris may similarly collect around a spinning deflector plate, which can slow or jam the deflector plate.
It would thus be desirable to provide a sprinkler assembly including a pop-up deflector that protects the nozzle during periods of non-use. It would also be desirable to incorporate the pop-up deflector in a rotator assembly, including a brake or the like, to better control sprinkler patterns during use. It would still further be desirable for a sprinkler assembly to be constructed using modular components that are selectively configurable to achieve different characteristics for a sprinkler assembly.
In an exemplary embodiment, a sprinkler includes a pop-up deflector plate that is engageable with a brake assembly in an extended position. A brake module is secured to a sprinkler body and includes a rotatable connector coupled with the brake assembly. A nozzle module is cooperable with the sprinkler body and includes a nozzle, and the deflector plate is cooperable with the nozzle module and is disposed adjacent the nozzle. The deflector plate is displaceable in the nozzle module between a retracted position and the extended position. The deflector plate includes a stream deflector surface and a torque shaft, where the torque shaft is engaged with the rotatable connector in the extended position.
The torque shaft may be engaged with the rotatable connector in the retracted position. The rotatable connector may include a channel with a cross-sectional shape, where the torque shaft may be shaped corresponding to the cross-sectional shape to engage the channel and to transfer torque between the deflector plate and the rotatable connector. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape may be square, and the torque shaft may be shaped to fit in the square shape. The cross-sectional shape may contain ridges, where the torque shaft may be provided with splines engageable with the ridges.
The nozzle module may include a nozzle top coupled with a nozzle base, where the deflector plate may be displaceable between the retracted position and the extended position in the nozzle top. The nozzle module may be connected to the sprinkler body in a snap fit. The rotatable connector may be positioned so as to act as a stop limit for the deflector plate in the extended position.
In some embodiments, the torque shaft may be tapered such that the torque shaft is disengaged from the rotatable connector in the retracted position.
The sprinkler may also include a base unit to which the nozzle module can be secured. The base unit has connecting structure connectable with a source of water under pressure.
In a hanging rotator embodiment, the sprinkler may be provided with a spring acting between the rotatable connector and the deflector plate that biases the deflector plate toward the retracted position.
The deflector plate may include a breakaway diffuser tab.
The brake module, the nozzle module and the deflector plate may be modular components. In this context, the sprinkler may include a plurality of brake modules with varying braking characteristics, a plurality of nozzle modules with varying flow characteristics, and a plurality of deflector plates with varying stream disbursement characteristics, where the pluralities of brake modules, nozzle modules and deflector plates may be selectively and independently attachable to the sprinkler body.
In another exemplary embodiment, a sprinkler assembly includes a plurality of interchangeable modular components. The sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler body including couplers for securing the interchangeable modular components. The plurality of interchangeable components include a plurality of brake modules each securable to the sprinkler body, a plurality of nozzle modules each securable to the sprinkler body, and a plurality of deflector plates each cooperable with the plurality of nozzle modules and disposed adjacent the nozzle. The plurality of brake modules respectively have varying braking characteristics from no braking to maximum braking, where each of the brake modules includes a rotatable connector. Each of the plurality of nozzle modules includes a nozzle having a nozzle size, where the respective nozzle sizes of the plurality of nozzle modules reflect varying flow characteristics. The deflector plates are each displaceable in the respective nozzle module between a retracted position and an extended position, and the deflector plates each include a stream deflector surface and a torque shaft. The torque shaft is engaged with the rotatable connector in the extended position.
In some embodiments, the sprinkler assembly includes a jewel cup bearing mounted in the rotatable connector and a ball bearing disposed at a distal end of the torque shaft and engaged with the jewel cup bearing with the deflector plate in the extended position.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, a sprinkler includes a sprinkler body; a brake module secured to the sprinkler body and including a rotatable connector coupled with a brake assembly; a nozzle; and a pop-up deflector plate disposed adjacent the nozzle and engaging the rotatable connector in an extended position.
These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The sprinkler of the described embodiments results in a lower cost pop-up sprinkler that is configurable either as a rotator (i.e., incorporating a brake to control rotation speed) or a spinner (i.e., freely rotating). The sprinkler includes modular components so that the nozzle, deflector and brake functions can be varied according to user specifications. In a rotator configuration, the pop-up deflector plate is engageable in an extended position with a brake assembly. The brake module is secured to a sprinkler body and includes a rotatable connector coupled with the brake assembly. The pop-up deflector plate is disposed adjacent the nozzle and engages the rotatable connector in the extended position. With the modular construction, the brake assembly can be interchanged with a spinner assembly. Additionally, the nozzle module may or may not be provided with flow control structure and similarly may be interchanged with an alternative nozzle module. Still further, the deflector plate can be interchanged with alternative deflector plates to reflect desired sprinkler patterns.
The nozzle module 18 includes a nozzle top 22 engaged with a nozzle base 24. In some embodiments, the nozzle top 22 is coupled with the nozzle base 24 in a snap fit. The nozzle top 22 includes a deflector plate receiving channel 25. The nozzle base 24 may include an integrated nozzle 26 through which a stream of water is emitted. A flow washer 28 may be included to provide flow control from the nozzle 26.
A deflector plate 30 is cooperable with the nozzle module 18 and is disposed adjacent the nozzle 26. The deflector plate includes a shaft section 31 that is sized to fit in the deflector plate receiving channel 25 of the nozzle top 22. The water stream flowing through the nozzle 26 is directed to the deflector plate 30, which is provided with a stream deflector surface 32 for turning and distributing the water stream. The stream deflector surface 32 is shaped to cause the deflector plate 30 to rotate when impacted with the water stream from the nozzle 26. The deflector plate 30 is displaceable in the nozzle top 22 of the nozzle module 18 between a retracted position (shown in
The brake module 14 is secured in the first compartment 12 and includes a shaft 36 coupled with a rotatable connector 38. The brake module can be of any type suitable for the intended purpose. In some embodiments, the brake module is a viscous brake assembly including a rotor attached to the shaft 36 and disposed in a pool of viscous fluid 42. The rotor 40 and viscous fluid 42 serve to resist rotation of the shaft 36. The viscous brake assembly may also include a bearing 44 in which the shaft 36 is rotatable, and a seal 46 and retainer 48 to enclose and secure the assembly. Other types of brake assemblies may be incorporated into the brake module 14.
With continued reference to
In some embodiments, the torque shaft 34 is engaged with the rotatable connector 38 in both the extended position and the retracted position. With such an engagement, the deflector plate 30 and the rotatable connector 38 are coupled before a water stream is emitted through the nozzle 26. In alternative embodiments, the torque shaft 34 is detached from the connector 38 in the retracted position (see the discussion below with reference to
With continued reference to
To assemble the sprinkler, the nozzle module 18 may be snapped into the second compartment 16 of the sprinkler body 10, and the deflector plate 30 is set in the nozzle top 22. The brake module 14 may be secured in the first compartment 12 using any suitable connector such as a quarter-turn lock. This known type of lock is useful for connecting plastic pieces and utilizes tabs and ridges to secure parts with a quarter-turn or twist lock. The brake module 14 is installed such that the rotatable connector 38 is engaged or aligned with the torque shaft 34.
A similar quarter-turn lock or the like may be used to secure the assembly on a base unit 50. The base unit 50 includes connecting structure connectable with a source of water under pressure. In some embodiments, the base unit 50 includes a stake adapter or the like connectable via a quarter-turn lock. Alternatively, the base unit 50 may be threaded using a threaded Acme connector or may be press fit and glued.
In use, before a water stream flows through the nozzle 26, the deflector plate 30 is disposed in its retracted position as shown in
In some embodiments, it may be desirable to incorporate a breakaway diffuser tab on the deflector plate 30 as shown in
The modular construction of the described sprinkler facilitates assembly of the sprinkler into the numerous described variations as may be suitable for different intended functionalities. Thus, the assembly may include a plurality of brake modules with varying braking characteristics, a plurality of nozzle modules with varying flow characteristics, and a plurality of deflector plates with varying stream disbursement characteristics. The pluralities of brake modules, nozzle modules and/or deflector plates may be selectively and independently attachable to the sprinkler body. The varying braking characteristics extend from no braking to maximum braking as described. The nozzle modules may include nozzles having varying sizes to reflect the varying flow characteristics.
The sprinkler according to the described embodiments incorporates a pop-up deflector plate in a rotator assembly. Additionally, the modular construction enables the use of multiple variations according to intended functionality.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/365,461, filed Nov. 30, 2016, pending, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in this application.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190344300 A1 | Nov 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15365461 | Nov 2016 | US |
Child | 16521785 | US |