Patent Application
20060006254
This invention relates generally to sprinklers and, more particularly, to a two-axis, full-circle sprinkler which may incorporate one or a pair of viscous brake devices to slow the rotational speed of certain sprinkler components including the water distribution or rotor plate.
It is well known in the field of irrigation generally and rotating sprinklers particularly for a sprinkler device to emit a non-rotating stream from a fixed nozzle onto a rotating plate with substantially radial grooves that nevertheless establish a moment arm, causing the plate (often referred to as a “rotor plate”) to rotate about the nozzle axis. The plate grooves also reorient the stream from vertical to substantially horizontal, distributing the water in a circular pattern. The grooves of the rotor plate may be configured to produce different wetting patterns, depending on specific site applications. In some cases, the rotation of the rotor plate is slowed by a viscous brake or “motor” in order to maximize the throw radius of the stream. In others, the rotor may be of the free-spinning type. Examples of such sprinkler constructions may be found in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 33,823; 4,796,811; 5,297,737; 5,372,307; 5,439,174; and 5,588,595.
It is nevertheless desirable to improve the performance characteristics of such sprinkler devices, and to build in greater flexibility with respect to producing desirable distribution curves in a simpler more cost effective manner.
In accordance with the present invention, a two-axis, full-circle sprinkler is provided in which the rotor plate orbits about a first axis and, at the same time, rotates about a second axis parallel to, or at an angle to, the first axis. In the disclosed embodiments, the first axis is the longitudinal center axis of the sprinkler and sprinkler nozzle.
In one embodiment, the rotor plate is supported eccentrically downstream of the nozzle on a link arm which is itself rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the sprinkler.
In another embodiment, the rotor plate is supported eccentrically on a spinner which is, in turn, mounted concentrically on the sprinkler nozzle.
In still another embodiment, the rotor plate is supported eccentrically downstream of the nozzle on a rotor rotatably mounted within the sprinkler body. The nozzle itself is also supported on the rotor, lying on the longitudinal axis of the sprinkler body.
In still another embodiment, the rotor plate is supported for rotation about an axis parallel to the nozzle axis on a gear train cage, the latter utilized to slow the rotation of the rotor plate.
It is also a feature of the invention that a viscous retarder may be incorporated into the rotor plate to slow the rotation of the plate about the second axis. In addition, the orbiting motion of the rotor plate about the first axis may be slowed by incorporation of a second viscous retarder in the sprinkler body. Alternatively, one or the other of the retarders may be omitted. Thus, various embodiments of free-spinning and/or braked components may be employed to achieve the desired sprinkling pattern. Moreover, the viscous type retarder may be replaced in some instances by other braking devices, such as a gear reduction drive or mechanical friction device if desired.
Other features include:
Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a sprinkler 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 in axially spaced and laterally offset relation to 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 rotor plate to rotate about the second axis when a stream emitted from the nozzle impinges on the plate.
In another aspect, the present invention provides 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 in axially spaced and laterally offset relation to 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.
The invention will now be described in detail in connection with the drawings identified below.
With reference to
The body 12 also includes a pair of struts 24, 26 extending downwardly away from the tubular portion 14, remote ends of the struts 24, 26 connected by a crossbeam 28. Struts 24, 26 may have a blade shape at 25 and 27 to minimize any obstruction of the stream as it passes across the struts 24, 26. The crossbeam 28 supports a first speed retarder device which is shown as a viscous brake 30 which may be press-fit, snap-fit or otherwise suitably secured within a through bore 32 centrally located in the crossbeam 28 between the struts 24, 26. The viscous brake 30 is of known construction, and is found on various sprinkler heads commercially available from the assignee. Reference is also made to the commonly owned patents identified hereinabove. Briefly, the viscous brake 30 includes a rotor 34 fixed to a rotatable shaft 36 supported within a chamber 38 in the brake housing 40 via bearing 42. The chamber 38 contains a viscous fluid (preferably but not necessarily a silicone fluid) which otherwise slows the rotation of the shaft 36 by way of viscous “shearing” of the fluid in the chamber 38. An annular seal 44 (held in place by a cap or retainer not shown) prevents escape of fluid from the housing end where the shaft 36 exits the latter. The shaft 36 rotates about a longitudinal axis A of the tubular portion 14 extending through the orifice of nozzle 18.
The end of the shaft 36 exterior of the housing supports a horizontal crank arm, or eccentric coupler 46 that is fixed to the shaft so that the shaft and link arm rotate together. The other end of the crank arm 46 receives one end of a second shaft 48 which is parallel to but offset from the first shaft 36. The second shaft 48 supports a water distributor (or rotor) plate 50 for rotation relative to the shaft 48 about a second axis B extending parallel to but offset from axis A. The rotor plate 50 includes a second viscous brake device 52. More specifically, the rotor plate is formed with an interior chamber 54 through which the shaft 48 passes. The shaft 48 has a stator 56 secured thereto, in close proximity to the chamber wall. Here again, the chamber is filled or partially filled with a viscous fluid to retard rotation of the plate about the shaft 48. A bearing 58 supports the shaft, and an adjacent seal 60 prevents escape of fluid from the chamber 54.
The exterior of the rotor plate is formed with a plurality of grooves 62 on the side of the plate facing the nozzle 18. The grooves have radially inner substantially vertical surfaces adjacent the nozzle that transition to generally horizontal surfaces at radially outer positions where the stream or streams exit the plate. The grooves 62 are also asymmetrically arranged relative to the axis B as best seen in
The operation of the sprinkler is as follows: As the stream exits the nozzle 18 along longitudinal axis A, it impinges on grooves 62 in the rotor plate 50 and redirects the stream outwardly and nearly perpendicularly to the axis A. The arrangement of the grooves in the rotor plate 50 cause the plate to rotate about axis B as mentioned above. The moment arm of the exiting stream relative to the shaft 48 (which is coincident with axis B) also causes the link arm 46 and shaft 36 to rotate in a direction opposite the rotation of the plate 50 about shaft 48. Thus, as the plate 50 rotates-about the shaft 48 (and axis B) in one direction, both the plate 50 and shaft 48 orbit about the shaft 36 (and longitudinal axis A) in the same or opposite direction, depending on the arrangement of grooves 62 in the plate 50. The use of brakes 30 and 52 significantly slows the rotation of both shafts 36 and 48 (and hence, rotor plate 50).
It should be pointed out here, however, that it is not necessary to dampen or retard the rotation of the shaft 48, nor is it necessary to dampen the rotation of the link arm 46 and shaft 36. One or the other or both may be freely spinnable about their respective axes. Moreover, if a retarder is to be used, it may be a viscous fluid dampening device as illustrated, or other means such as, for example, a gear train, flywheel, or other mechanical friction arrangement. In still another variation, two viscous brake mechanisms may be employed with different levels of retardation, by simply changing the viscosity of the fluid in one or the other of the brake chambers. In other words, the above-described rotator/spinner construction is designed for flexibility in that a multitude of combinations can be employed to fulfill a variety of water application needs consistent with the desire to provide an effective water distribution curve with minimal time devoted to rotor plate groove design. For example, the above-described embodiment tends to be less sensitive to water pressure and flow rate variations than other designs, thereby minimizing change out of rotor plates. In this regard, the action of the various grooves 62 in the rotor plate 50, rotating in and out of the water stream, tends to fill in the water distribution curve (the amount of water v. distance from sprinkler) in a desirable fashion. The action delivers a uniform level of both long distance (wind fighting) and in-close coherent water streams.
It should also be noted that while the sprinkler 10 in
Turning now to
Turning now to
Fixed to the upper or outlet end of the sleeve 74, and adjacent the nozzle orifice 80, there is fixed a flanged tubular member 82, with the axis of the tubular member coincident with the longitudinal axis A of the sprinkler body and nozzle. The flanged tubular member 82 includes a radially outwardly extending horizontal flange 84 which is mounted on the upper face of the sleeve 74 while the tubular portion 85 extends upwardly away from the nozzle component 76. A spinner 86 is mounted on the tubular portion 85 for rotation about the longitudinal axis A. Upper and lower bearings 88 and 90, in combination with the rotator or spinner interior wall, define an internal chamber 92 filled or partially filled with a viscous fluid. At the same time, an annular stator member 94 is secured to the tubular portion 85 of member 82 at a location such that the stator member 94 is received centrally within the chamber 92. Annular seals 96 and 98, held in place by conventional retainers, serve to prevent escape of viscous fluid from the chamber 92.
A shaft 100 is fixed within the spinner 86 at one side thereof (fixed by a set screw 101) and extends upwardly so as to support a rotor plate 102 for rotation relative to the shaft 100. This rotor plate 102 is generally similar to the rotor plate 50 previously described, although the orientation is reversed. The plate 102 is provided with an interior chamber 104 through which the shaft 100 passes. The shaft 100 has a stator member 106 fixedly secured thereto in close proximity to the chamber wall. This chamber is also filled or partially filled with a viscous fluid to retard rotation of the plate 102 about the shaft 100. The lower end of the chamber is closed by a shaft bearing 107 along with a cap 108 and a seal 110 held in place by a retainer 111 to prevent escape of fluid from the chamber 104. The shaft 100 defines a second longitudinal axis B which extends parallel to but which is offset from, the first longitudinal axis A of the sprinkler body. It should be appreciated that the rotor plate could also be supported for free rotation and, in such case, the viscous fluid would be eliminated in favor of a lubricating grease or oil.
The plate 102, like the plate 50, is provided with a plurality of grooves 112 which may have a configuration generally similar to those of the plate 50, so that the stream from the nozzle orifice 80, after passing through the tubular portion 85, impinges the grooves 112 of the plate 102 in the same manner as the plate 50, causing the plate 102 to rotate about the fixed shaft 100. This spinning action of the plate 102 about the shaft 100, i.e., about axis B, also causes the rotator or spinner 86 to rotate about the tubular member 82, i.e., about axis A in a direction opposite the rotation of the plate 102 (similar to the embodiment illustrated in
In
The rotor 122 is formed with relatively small diameter stems 130, 132 on opposite sides of an enlarged rotor portion 134. The lower stem 132 is located closely adjacent the shoulder 128, while the underside of the enlarged rotor portion 134 is closely adjacent the shoulder 126. A cap and seal assembly 136 is seated on the shoulder 124, and the upper stem 130 extends upwardly through the seal assembly 136. An eccentric coupler or crank arm is formed at the top of the upper stem 130, extending radially on one side 142 a substantially greater distance than on the other side 144.
The above-described arrangement establishes a viscous liquid chamber 146 extending from an O-ring 148 on the lower stem to the cap and seal assembly 136 at the upper stem. A retainer 137 holds the assembly in place. As in the previous embodiments, the chamber 146 is filled or partially filled with a viscous fluid.
The crank arm 140 supports a nozzle 150 with a nozzle orifice 152 aligned axially with the longitudinal axis A of the sprinkler body 114. A shaft 154 defining a parallel axis B is mounted in the longer, asymmetric side of the crank 140 and extends vertically upwardly, supporting a rotor plate 156 for rotation relative to the shaft. In this regard, the shaft 154 mounts a stator member 158 within a chamber 160 formed interiorly of the plate 156. The opening in the plate 156 is closed by a bearing 162 and seal and cap assembly 164, and held in place by a retainer 165. The arrangement here is similar to that described in connection with the
With a vertical stream S issuing from orifice 152 and impinging on grooves 166 in the plate, the latter is caused to rotate about the shaft 154, i.e., axis B, but is slowed by the viscous shearing action between the stator member 158 and the peripheral wall of the rotating chamber 160. At the same time, the rotation of plate 156 causes the crank arm 140 and rotor 122 to rotate in the opposite direction about the axis A, slowed by the viscous shearing action between the rotor portion 134 and the peripheral wall of the chamber 146. As in the previously described embodiments, one or the other or both of the retarders may be removed in favor of freely spinnable components, and if desired, the shaft 154 may be tipped as shown in the
Turning now to
With reference now to
The cap assembly 214 may be secured to an upper end of the sprinkler body 212 as described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,168. The sprinkler body 212 includes three equally circumferentially spaced struts 242 (one shown) connected at their upper end by a mounting ring 244 on which the cap assembly is removably secured. The lower end of the sprinkler body 212 supports the interchangeable nozzle 216 in the manner described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,348. Nozzle 216 includes a central tubular portion 246 defining a flow passage having an inlet 248 at one end and a discharge orifice 250 at an opposite outlet end. As best seen in
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
