The present disclosure relates generally to water sprinklers.
Water sprinklers are used to distribute water within a spray area, such as a lawn. There are numerous forms of water sprinklers, including stationary, rotary, and oscillating varieties. Water sprinklers are fluidly coupled to a water supply through a water supply conduit, such as a garden hose. Stationary water sprinklers distribute water through a stationary water distributor, such as a spray tube or other spray member. The spray tube includes numerous nozzles, each of which are positioned to eject a stream of water onto a region within the spray area. The size of the spray area is determined, in part, by the number of nozzles on the spray tube and the pressure of the water supply to which the water sprinkler is coupled. Rotary and oscillating water sprinklers include a water distributor that rotates or oscillates in order to distribute water within a greater area than would otherwise be possible with a stationary spray tube. The flow of the water supply provided to a rotary and an oscillating sprinkler is used to drive a water motor which moves the water distributor.
Typically, in response to being fluidly coupled to a water supply, water sprinklers begin to distribute water through the distributor. Some water sprinklers, however, include a timer for controlling the flow of water through the distributor. In an “on” position the timer enables water to flow from the water supply to the distributor. In an “off” position the timer prevents water from flowing to the distributor. The timer is configured to remain in the “on” position for a predetermined time period. At the expiration of the predetermined time period the timer enters the “off” position to stop the flow of water to the distributor.
There is a continuing need in the art to provide a water sprinkler that is less complicated to manufacture.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a water sprinkler that includes a base defining a first cavity and an outflow opening, a conduit assembly positioned in said first cavity and defining a first channel and a second channel, and said first channel defining a first channel inlet and a first channel outlet, and further said second channel defining a second channel inlet and a second channel outlet, and a timer mechanism having a timer inlet and a timer outlet, said timer mechanism being configured to operate in (i) a first mode in which fluid is allowed to pass between said timer inlet and said timer outlet, and (ii) a second mode in which fluid is prevented from passing between said timer inlet and said timer outlet, wherein said first channel outlet is positioned in fluid communication with said timer inlet, wherein said second channel inlet is positioned in fluid communication with said timer outlet, and wherein said base and said conduit assembly are configured so that fluid advancing through the water sprinkler must pass through both (i) said second channel outlet, and (ii) said outflow opening.
In accordance with another embodiment, a water sprinkler is provided that includes a base having a base outlet structure defining an outflow opening, said base further defining an inflow opening and a timer opening, a conduit assembly supported by said base and defining a first channel and a second channel, said first channel defining a first channel inlet and a first channel outlet, and said second channel defining a second channel inlet and a second channel outlet, and a timer mechanism extending through said timer opening and having a timer inlet and a timer outlet, said timer mechanism being configured to operate in (i) a first mode in which fluid is allowed to pass between said timer inlet and said timer outlet, and (ii) a second mode in which fluid is prevented from passing between said timer inlet and said timer outlet, wherein said first channel outlet is positioned in fluid communication with said timer inlet, wherein said second channel inlet is positioned in fluid communication with said timer outlet, wherein said conduit assembly includes a conduit outlet structure defining said second channel outlet, wherein said conduit outlet structure is aligned with said base outlet structure, and wherein said first channel is aligned with said inflow opening.
Features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the figures, in which:
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the device described herein, reference will now be made to the embodiment(s) illustrated in the figures and described in the following written specification. It is understood that no limitation to the scope of the device is thereby intended. It is further understood that the device includes any alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiment(s) and includes further applications of the principles of the device as would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this device pertains.
A water sprinkler 100, shown in
The base 104 supports and positions the components of the water sprinkler 100 as shown in
The outlet structure 126 defines an outflow opening 128 through the base 104. As shown in
The base 104 also defines an inflow opening 132 through the edge 140. A center of the inflow opening 132 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cavity 120, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
With reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The inlet structure 208 defines the inlet 244 of the channel 232. In response to the water sprinkler 100 being coupled to a water supply, water flows into the inlet structure 208 through the inlet 244, through the channel 232, and then through the outlet 248. As described below, water exiting the outlet 248 is received by the timer mechanism 112 and then selectively fluidly coupled to the channel 228.
As shown in
As shown in
Referring again to
The conduit assembly 108 includes a support tang 264, as shown in
As shown in
The timer mechanism 112 regulates the flow of water from the inlet structure 208 to the outlet structure 212. A portion of the timer mechanism 112 is received by the housing 204, and another portion of the timer mechanism 112 is positioned outside of the cavity 124, as shown in
In response to the timer mechanism 112 being connected to the housing 204, the inlet 316 is positioned in fluid communication with the outlet 248 and the outlet 320 is positioned in fluid communication with the inlet 236, as shown in
The timer mechanism 112 selectively fluidly couples the channel 228 to the channel 232. As described above, the timer mechanism 112 includes a mechanical timer 304 and a diaphragm 308. The diaphragm 308 is positioned in a chamber 332. The chamber 332 is fluidly coupled to the inlet 316 and the outlet 320. The mechanical timer 304 is configured to move the diaphragm 308 within the chamber 332 to couple selectively the inlet 316 to the outlet 320. In particular, the mechanical timer 304 may be configured in an “on” configuration or an “off” configuration. In the “on” configuration the mechanical timer 304 positions the diaphragm 308 to couple fluidly the channel 228 to the channel 232, thereby enabling water to flow through the inlet 316, into the chamber 332, and through the outlet 320. Accordingly, when the mechanical timer 304 is in the “on” configuration, water from the water supply flows through the inlet structure 208, through the channel 232, into the inlet 316, through the chamber 332, out the outlet 320, through the channel 228, out the outlet 240, and into the distributor 116. In the “off” configuration the mechanical timer 304 positions the diaphragm 308 to decouple fluidly the channel 228 from the channel 232, thereby preventing fluid in the channel 232 from flowing into the chamber 332. Accordingly, in response to the timer mechanism 112 being in the “off” configuration, water from the water supply is prevented from flowing into the chamber 332, the outlet 320, the channel 228, or the distributor 116. The timer mechanism 112 is not limited to the exemplary diaphragm 308 illustrated in
The mechanical timer 304 remains in the “on” configuration for a predetermined time period. At the conclusion of the predetermined time period the mechanical timer 304 enters the “off” configuration. A user selects the predetermined time period by rotating the dial 312, which is rotatably coupled to the mechanical timer 304. An exemplary range of the predetermined time period is from approximately twenty minutes to three hours.
The distributor 116, also referred to as a distribution device or a sprinkler head, is coupled to the base 104 and the conduit assembly 108. In particular, the distributor 116 is connected to the outlet structure 212 through the outflow opening 128. When the water sprinkler 100 is connected to a water supply and the mechanical timer 304 is in the “on” configuration, the distributor 116 distributes water from the water supply within the predetermined area. The distributor 116 is an oscillating distributor as shown in
As shown in
To assemble the water sprinkler 100, the timer mechanism 112 is inserted into the housing 204, such that the inlet 316 is inserted into the outlet 248 and the outlet 320 is inserted into the inlet 236. A fluid tight seal is formed between the inlet 316 and the outlet 248 and between the outlet 320 and the inlet 236 in response to the timer mechanism 112 being inserted into the housing 204. Next, to ensure that the timer mechanism 112 remains seated within the housing 204, fasteners are inserted through the openings 324 and the openings 328. Subsequently, the conduit assembly 108, having the timer mechanism 112 mounted to the housing 204, is coupled to the base 104. In particular, the housing 204 is seated in the cavity 124 and the tube portion 200 is seated in the cavity 120 and the cavity 124. The dial 312 extends through the timer opening 330 in the base 104, as illustrated in
In operation, the water sprinkler 100 distributes water from a water supply selectively over a predetermined area. To configure the water sprinkler 100 to distribute water, a water supply conduit 105, such as a garden hose, is connected to a water supply. Then, the water supply conduit 105 is fluidly coupled to the inlet structure 208. In particular, the internal threads of the coupling 268 are meshingly engaged with the external threads of the coupling 105C of the garden hose 105 to couple fluidly the garden hose 105 to the channel 232. Typically, a valve or spigot regulates the flow of water through the garden hose 105. Next, the mechanical timer 304 is set for a predetermined time period by rotating the dial 312 to select a desired time period. Setting the timer mechanism 112 for the desired time period configures the timer mechanism 112 in the “on” configuration for the duration of the time period.
After the timer mechanism 112 is configured, the spigot is positioned to enable water to flow through the garden hose 105 to the water sprinkler 100. Water from the garden hose 105 flows through the input structure 208 and is diverted by the diverter 224 into the channel 232. Next, because the timer mechanism is in the “on” configuration, water flows through the inlet 316, into the chamber 332, and then through the outlet 320. After flowing through the timer mechanism 112, the water flows through the channel 228 and the output structure 212. Water flowing through the output structure 212, flows through the inlet opening 402 and then is distributed onto the predetermined area after it exits the outlet 404. Accordingly, the water sprinkler 100 is configured such that water distributed by the distributor 116 must first pass through both the outlet 240 and the outflow opening 128, before the water is ejected from the water sprinkler 100 by the distributor 116.
At the expiration of the predetermined time period of the timer mechanism 112, the water sprinkler 100 stops distributing water provided by the water supply. In particular, at the expiration of the predetermined time period the mechanical timer 304 causes the diaphragm 308 to move to the position in which the channel 228 is fluidly decoupled from the channel 232. Accordingly, the water from the water supply enters the channel 232, but is prevented from flowing through the outlet 248 due to the position of the diaphragm 308.
The device described herein has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and foregoing description, the same should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that only the preferred embodiments have been presented and that all changes, modifications, and further applications that come within the spirit of the device described herein are desired to be protected.
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Entry |
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PCT Search Report in corresponding PCT Application (i.e., PCT/US2011/027436), mailed Jun. 6, 2011 (4 pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20110215168 A1 | Sep 2011 | US |