US1568250A - Sprinkler - Google Patents

Description

L. SANTON Jan. v'5

SPRINKLER Filed Jan.

PATENT OFFICE.

LENTI-TEL STANTON, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

SPRINKLER.

Application filed January 20, 1925.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LENTHEL STANTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Vashington, have invented' new and useful Improvements in Sprinklers, of which the following is a specification.

rl`his invention relates to sprinklers and is especially designed and intended for lawn sprinkling although it is adapted for any sprinkling function within its capacity.

The device of' my invention, in some of its uses, is designed as and for a rotary function to irrigate a circular area.

Now it is a feature of my invention to vary the length of the sprinkling stream in such a manner that all radial portions of a circular area can be uniformly irrigated.

Another feature of my invention is to provide means whereby my improved rotary sprinkler can irrigate a square area.

Heretofore, the water actuated mechanism for driving a rotary sprinkler has involved such complication that all types known to me, not only quickly wear out but frequently get out of order.

Now it is an especial feature of this invention to provide an actuating mechanism, especially of the step by stepor intermittent type, which will wear practically as long as the stationary parts on which the device is mounted.

It is also a feature to provide water actuating mechanism which will substantially uniformly rotate the sprinkler nozzle throughout a complete circle at practically the same speed and length of step by step movement.

My invention has other features and objects which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and which will be more particularly pointed out by the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. l, is a view in side elevation of my improved rotary sprinkler.

Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional View thereof on line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3, is a horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4, is a view in side elevation of the nozzle portion looking from the right of Figure 1.

Fig. 5, is a view in side elevation of the nozzle portion equipped with an attachment for sprinkling a square area..

Serial N0. 3,623.

Fig. 6, is a plan View therco f.

Fig. 7, is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the dierent figures of the drawing.

As shown, .my sprinkler structure includes a base l, preferably cylindrical in form and having a normally horizontally disposed bottom wall 2 and a normally upright cylindrical wall 8. In the present construction, wall 3, has a radially inwardly extending flange 4, to which a removable top wall 5, is secured by screws 6. This construction forms, with an inlet to be described, a water whirling chamber in which certain mechanism is disposed and operated by the water for the purpose of rotating the sprinkler nozzle. In order to insure a whirling movement of the water I provide an inlet 7 which opens at 8, to chamber 9, on a tangent, so that in addition to the cylindrical form of the chamber, the water will be admitted thereto in a manner to effect the most eiiicient whirling motion. The inlet 7, may as shown, be cast integralwith the structure in which chamber 9 is formed, and the same is suitably threaded at l0, for attachment to the threaded fitting of a lawn hose whereby water will be supplied under pressure That part of the mechas nism which is directly acted upon by the water, is in the form of a freely movable and unrestrained body which is preferably in the form of a ball 11.- This ball 11 may be made of bronze or any metal that will resist corrosion and which is of sufiicient weight to perform the function. The whirling movement of th(J water will cause ball 11 to roll along wall 3, and centrifugally retain itself against said wall in continuous circular paths of travel, unless interrupted. It will be course be clear that when ball 1l, is at position A, directly in front of inlet- 8, it will be propelled with greater force and at a greater speed than when the ball is in position B, where it is just approaching toward inlet 8. This is naturally true not only because the chamber 9 is full of water under pressure but also due to the fact that in the present form, the outlet for the water is axially disposed with respect to chamber 9.

I will next describe my improved nozzle and the mechanism thereof which coacts with ball 1.1, t0 operate said nozzle. i

I have shown the top wall 5, provided with a journalling hub l2 in which a tubular stem 13, of the nozzle is rotatively j ournalled, to rotate about a Vertical axis. A nozzle head 14, which will be laterdescribed, is fixed on said stem and is fed through the bore 15, of the latter. This tubular stem 13, forms the outlet for chamber 9 and the lower end extends downwardly into said chamber 9 and carries a radially disposed arm 16. It will be noted that there is considerable clearance between the bottom of the nozzle 14 and the top of hub 12, and that in the absence of water pressure, these two surfaces will be in contact. However, when chamber 9 is full of water under pressure, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2, and the flange 17, engaging the bottom of top wall 5, reduces leakage to a minimum, and retains the parts from further distension under the action of water pressure. Arm 16, is provided with a bent terminal 18, which I will term an impact end, as it is against this end 18, that ball 11, successively impacts, to rotate sprinkler nozzle 14, step by step throughout its complete circular movements.

Now if the axis C, of nozzle 14, was coincident with vertical axis D, of chamber 9, then, the step by step movement of arm 16, and consequently nozzle 14, would lack uniformity. It would be greater when the ball 11, is in position A, than it would when ball 11 is in position B. This would be true because the whirling water loses some of its momentum notwithstanding the continuous supply under pressure, and for the further reason that the nozzle takes its outlet supply from chamber 9, substantially axially therefrom. Hence, by disposing the arm 16 axis slightly eccentric to the axis of chamber 9, I reduce the effective impact of the ball 11, against end 18, in the full line position in Fig. 3, and increase the effective impact in the dotted line position shown in said figure. This compensating action results from the' fact that end 18 is closer to wall 3, in the full line position than it is in the dotted line position. Thus, in the full line position, where the ball has substantially its greatest speed, the impact, or point of impact, which is between wall 3 and the cent-er of ball 11, is nearer wall 3, than it is to the center of ball 11. In the dotted line position, the point of impact is nearer the center of the ball 11, than wall 3. I-Iowever, in either position, the ball 11, after striking end 18, will roll slightly radially inwardly and pass by said end, under the impulsive action of the water which pros pels said ball, and because the center of the ball is always radially inwardly of the point of impact with end 18. In any event, it will now be clear, that after the ball has struck end 18, and negotiated a complete circular path of travel, it will have acquired Such speed that it will strike end 18 with sucient force, even if the impact is a glancing blow, to elfectively move nozzle 14 the required distance. It will also be clear that after the ball 11 has moved radially inwardly to pass end 18, centrifugal action will cause the ball to quickly move radially outwardly again, and be retained against wall 3.

It will now be clear that means has been provided, including the unrestrained body or ball 11, to rotatively actuate nozzle 14, step by step throughout a circular path of movement. nozzle 14, will be such, and the step by step movement so slight, that the water will overlap and hence the circular area will be thoroughly irrigated, at least as regards its radially outer portion. It will also be clear that there is nothing to get out of order, and that wear is reduced to a. minimum. From Fig. 2, it will be seen that when the device is operating, the arm 16 is sufficiently elevated with respect to ball 11, that the latter can pass under arm 16 when the ball is passing by end 18.

I will next describe a feature of my invention whereby the character of the nozzle stream is modified in such a manner that the radially inward portion of the area to be sprinkled, will be as thoroughly irrigated as the radially outward portion of said area.

I have shown one means for carrying out this function which consists of a toothed disc 19. The nozzle 14, has a boss 20, Vand a screw 21, having threaded connection with this boss, also journals disc 19. A spring washer 22, may be interposed between said boss and disc so that as screw 21 is tightened, the rotative movement of the disc 19, about its own axis, may either be retarded, 0r entirely arrested. However, in addition to rotation of disc 19, about screw 21, as an axis, this disc 19 also rotates bodily with nozzle 14. I have shown disc 19 dished at 23, so that its teeth 24, will pass abreast of the discharge end of nozzle 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Now as seen in Fig. l, these teeth 24, are pointed teeth and the spaces 25, between the teeth 24, are equal to the size of the teeth, the purposes and reasons for which will presently appear. Means is provided for actuating said disc to partially or fully either spread the spriniing stream, or to partially or fully release the stream for full length flow.

As shown, said means consists of a spring strip of metal having a base portion 26, which is secured to top 5 by screw 27, and an upright actuating end 28, having a chamfered end 29, which can be adjusted about screw 27, to engage teeth 24, and rotate disc 19, the required distance at each revolution of nozzle 14. It will now be clear, that if a tooth 24, is fully' abreast of the nozzle The spread of the stream from stream, the latter will be spread and will not be projected to the same radial distance as it would if one of the spaces 25, were abreast of the stream. lThe result of this action is that the radially inward portions of the area being sprinkled will be as thoroughly irrigated as the radially outer portions. A wide range of adjustment is afforded to modify the action of disc 19. Screw 21, can he tightened sufficiently to restrict the step by step rotation of disc 19 so that a wide variety of modilication of the stream may be obtained. Likewise, the actuator may be adjusted by screw 9.7, to rotate the disc 19 more or less, on each contact. If it is desired not to use the disc at all, the actuator 28, can be turned outof range of Contact with teeth Qet, andrscrew 21, can be tightened after the disc is adjusted either to move a tooth 24:. partly or wholly in fixed interference with the stream, or in a manner to dispose one of the spaces 25, in fixed relation to the stream so that the latter will project to full length.

l have found in practice, that the swirl of the water egressing from chamber 9, is not neutralized by its passage through stem bore 15, and hence, I have devised means for dissipating this swirl so that a stream of full cross section can be projected from nozzle 14.

As shown, such means consists of a diaphragm 30, which may be a strip of sheet metal inserted into bore 15, for a suitable length, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. This strip 39, may be slightly bent, transversely of its longitudinal as shown, so that the resiliency of they metal will act to frictionally hold the strip firmly in place without requiring fastening means. lilith this provision, I `find in practice, that the swirl of the water is completely dissipated and that the nozzle throws a stream of full cross section. I consider rthis feature interdependently related to the broad idea of an actuating chamber 9.r in which the water is whirled, to actuate the nozzle, irrespective of the particular actuating means'en'iployed.

In many cases, it is desirable to sprinkle an area which is square in form, and I will next describe my improved attachment for performing this function.

Referring to Figs. 5 and G, 31 designates a housing which may be cylindrical in form and which may be provided with flanges 32, adapted to be secured by screws G, in a posi tion to dispose the housing 3l in concentric relation to stem 13. The upper marginal edge is provided with four raised portions 33, which are of sufcient height to intersect and thereby shorten the length of projection of the stream from the nozzle. At points intermediate portions 33, the marginal edges are reduced, as indicated at 341, to let the stream project without obstruction.

lith this appliance, I find that I can sprinkle a square area with a great degree of accuracy, which is a great advantage in sprinkling near an inside house corner,

where it is desired to sprinkle close to form size, the teeth varying in size and length, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the user can select the desired tooth to be disposed and held abreast of or in any variation of position with respect to the nozzle when it is desired to have a continuous modification of the nozzle stream. Further, by varying the size of the teeth, a suiiicient irregularity will be obtained in the character of nozzle stream each time the disc 19 is advanced, to further insure uniformity of irrigation over a given area.

When it is desired to sprinkle in a. given direction and on a localized area, I provide means for arresting rotation of the nozzle.

As shown, said means may take the form of a set screw 35, which may be threaded through top 5, and which includes a set nut for holding said screw 35 in any given position.` Ifit is desired to arrest the nozzle, the set screw is turned down until its lower end projects into the path of arm 16 su'lliciently to completely stop rotation of the latter. In this adjustment, the ball 11, would of course traverse its path of travel idly. A further feature and function of this, or any number of additional set screws in the same relation, consists in turning the screw or screws ldown just far enough to frictionally engage the top of arm 16, and thereby act to merely slow down said arm during one portion of its travel. This would cause a more prolonged sprinkling application in certain areas than in others. This feature may be employed in any case where, for any purpose, the arm 16 is to be retarded, or to have its movement modified with a view to obtaining uniformity of speed of rotation of said arm, and its appurtenances.

It is believed that the device of my invention will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and while I have herein shown and described one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim z- 1. lawn sprinkler structure including a substantially cylindrical Water chamber having a water inlet discharging tangent-ially thereinto to impart a whirling movement to the water, a sprinkler nozzle rotatively mounted on said chamber and communicating with said chamber, an operating arm in said chamber connected with said nozzle, and an unrestrained` body in said chamber actuated by the whirling water to engage said arm and rotatively actuate said sprinkler nozzle.

2. A lawn sprinkler structure comprising a cylindrical water chamber with ingress means for causing the water under pressure to swirl in said chamber, a sprinkler nozzle rotatively mounted on said chamber and forming an outlet for said chamber, a ball in said chamber actuate-d by swirling movement ot the water therein, and means suecessively in the path of said ball as the laticnctulenainbi *for "momentary impact by said ball for imparting intermittent movement to said sprinkler nozzle.

3. A lawn sprinkler structure comprising a circular water chamber having ingress means coacting with the form of said chamber to cause whirling of water in the latter, a. sprinkler nozzle mcvably mounted 4on said chamber and forming an outlet for the water in said chamber, a ball in said chamber actuated by whirling movement of the water therein to describe a circular path in said chamber, and means in the path of said ball for successive and momentary contact by the latter, said means varying its position with respect to the wall of said chamber to compensate for varying speed of said ball.

4. A lawn sprinkler structure having a substantially horizontal cylindrical water chamber with a vertically disposed axis, a nozzle advancing ball in said chamber, said chamber having a tangentially disposed water inlet opening into one peripheral portion ot said chamber whereby said ball will be ccntriiugally driven in a circular path along the wall of said chamber at a maximum speed immediately infront of said inlet and with a gradually reduced speed as said ball approaches toward said inlet, and a substantially vertically disposed sprinkler nozzle forming an outlet for said chamber and having an arm in said chamber for successive impact engagement by said ball, said nozzle being rotatable about an axis sufliciently eccentric with respect to the vertical axis oi" said chamber to reduce the elicotive impact between said ball and arm at thc maximum speed of the former and increase the eiiective impact as the speed of said ball is reduced.

5. A lawn sprinkler structure comprising a water chamber having a vertically disposed cylindrical wall and top and bottom horizontal walls, a tangential water inlet opening through said cylindrical wall whereby the water will be centrifugally whirled in said chamber, a sprinkler nozzle rot-atively mounted in said top wall and forming an outlet for said chamber and having a radial actuating arm in said chamber near said top wali and said arm having a downwardly extending impact end, and a ball actuated by the whirling water for glancing impact with said end, said ball being sufficiently reduced im diameter to pass beneath said arm after impacting with said end.

6. A lawn sprinkler structure comprising a water chamber having a cylindrical wall with a tangentially disposed water inlet whereby the water under pressure will be centrifugally whirled in said chamber, a sprinkler nozzle rotatably mounted on said chamber and 'forming the outlet for said chamber, a ball centrifugally advanced by the whirling water along and against said cylindrical wall, and said sprinkler nozzle having an actuating arm provided with an impact end disposed between said cylindrical wall and the center of said ball atl the time of impact whereby the said ball will impact with a glancing blow against said impact end and advance said arm and then roll radially inwardly past said impact end.

7. A sprinkler comprising a base, a sprinkler nozzle rotatable on said base. a toothed disc having teeth of different size and said disc being rotatable on said nozzle to be advanced to bring its -teeth and the spaces therebetween abreast of said nozzle, and means for rotating said disc step by step on each revolution of said nozzle, and means for holding said disc in any adjusted posi tion and preventing rotation oi said disc.

8. A sprinkler comprising a base, a sprinkler nozzle rotatable on said base, a toothed disc rotatably mounted on said nozzle and having teeth of different size dispose-d to travel in the path ot the stream discharged from said nozzle, and means for rotating said disc step by step as said nozzle rotates to bring the different sized teeth successively into different relation to the stream from said nozzle to vary the action oi the latter.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereby atiix my signature.

LENTIIEL STANTON.

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