US2611644A - Projectable nozzle lawn sprinkler - Google Patents

Description

S p H. J. M c. BURDICK 2,611,644

PROJECTABLE NOZZLE LAWN SPRINKLER Filed July 25, 1949 2 SHEETS SHEE'I l lldlllllh HIIIIW H- J. MQC. BURDICK PROJECTABLE NOZZLE LAWN SPRINKLER Sept. 23, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 25, 1949 J a u w h y s M E 6 W n w l a v 4 2 n 5 Q n. W 3 3 Q u 5.. II 7 4 & M. L

3 a z 2 w 6 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 23,1952

' UN [TED-1ST ATEiS PATENT OFFICE rnojnoriini nnozzrn LAWN gram Harry J; McCombsBui-dick, Anaheim, Calif.

' Application fiat-g5, 1949, Sean No. 106,688

, This invention relates to lawn sprinklers of the type in which the sprinkler nozzles not only are caused torotate by the pressure of the stream of water discharging therefrom, butin which the nozzles are by the pressure of the flowing water advanced to a positioniator'abovethe surrounding ground level, while the' -inaior portion of the device remains'below the ground-level "In such devices onefof the internment problems is so to designIa sprinklerhead that little soil or' other foreign matter will enter the device during and between operations'thereoff, I if With a view to solve this serious 'fproblemyit' is the general object of myinvention to provide a sprinkler head of the type referred't'o in which the nozzles and all the mechanismsconnected therewith is seated within; and 'removable'fro'n' f a casing which remains permanently fined inthe resisting entrance of" soilground to form a'guard and grit into the'sprinkler mechanism;

A further object of the invention is to provide a device including such casing fromwhich'th'e; sprinkler mechanism may be 'quickly' and easily? removed as a single unit or in complementary sub-units without'disturbing the positionoffthe casing. mechanism in whichevery' sible-for cleaning or replacement.

It is a further objectof the invention-to vide a sprinkler mechanism in which is'provided means for preventing back flowof water themO ment the water supply is turned oiii, Another object is to provide means wherebyfiow of water: through any p-articularsprinkler head'of an'ir? rigating system may be adjusted to equalize the;

new of water through all the nozzles of the system orentirely cut off. This is of particular im--' portance where the ground to be'ji'rrigated isuneven or sloping and the spij'inkler, heads for this reason are set at difierentelevation's Another object is to provide a sp-rinklerinyzhich thejheads 1 will recede into the casing the moment the waterf sprinkler heads are tilted to conform. to the angle of ih'j-f clination of the ground surface. A still further object is to provide a sprinkler headwhichfis is turned oif even in'cases wherethe 11 Claims. (01. 299*61) Another object is "to provide a sprinkler;

part is readily" acc'es In the drawings: i

, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device of my invention as it appears whenseated in the ground, as in practice;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device itself, on a larger scale and with some of the inner portions thereof only partly in section in order more clearly to illustrateimpo-rtant features thereof; d

Fig. 3 is a substantially corresponding plan viewer the device with a portion of the cover thereof broken away for thesake of clearness; Fig.1} shows the inner mechanism of the device as it appears when removed fromthe outer casing thereof; and i Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the mechanism shown in Fig; 4;

*The device of m invention, in the form illus- I hated in the drawings, includes a, cylindrical casing [terminating at the bottom of an interannular surface 5 of a size to receive thereon a,

circular partition 6 which is designedto form a H water-tight closure between the space 8 above and the chamber 9 below the plate. The manner in which this plate is clamped in position will be'hereinafter fully described. At the present moment, it should be suflicient to point out that the partition includes a downwardly directed designed and constructed to preventbreakage off parts thereof in case the moyement'ofthe noz, zles should be checked'due to seizing or sticking With these and other objects view the. invention resides in combinations hereinafterde scribed in detail and reference .is' invitedltothe accompanying..drawings in which apreferred:

of supporting parts thereof.

form'of the invention is illustrated.

sleeve 7 which forms a guide for correctly seatingthis part. The casing is proportioned as above described, in order to receive therein the rotatable and axially movable nozzle head assembIy of the invention. .This assembly is, as 40 best indicated in Fig. 3, fitted at the top with a circular plate I 0, the outer rim H of which is shown downwardly and inwardly tapered to ride onia. beveled seat 12 within the top rim of the upper casing portion 4. The central part of this plate is shown downwardly extended to form 'a pendent boss 13, to the bottom surface of which is rigidly secured a hollow, cylindrical nozzle supportmember I 4. As best shown in Fig. 2, this member has, in the bottom wall thereof, a central threaded perforation 15, of a size to receive therein. a tubular member l6 which, for convenience of description, hereinafter sometimes is-referred to as the riser of the nozzle head assembly. I

Co-axial with and snugly fitted for rotatory as well as axial movement within the central chamber 9 of the casing is a cylindrical container com means of a series of bolts 23. From the top plate member and they are laterally inclined or curved to form with the member the rotor assembly of the device. Axially rising through the rotor assembly is a stub shaft 34 and this shaft is rigidly maintained clamped in position within the member by means of a nut 35 engaging the threaded end of the shaft. In the upper end of the shaft is a coaxial shaft 29 seated to rotate and it-is secured within the boss 24- 'A gear pinion 36 is rigidly secured to the shaft 3.4.and it is, through a conventional train of planetary speed reducing gears 37, .operatively connected with agear 38 of thefshaft 29, near the top thereof, to rotate the boss 24, the riser i5 and the nozzle head assembly at extremely slow speed.

From the foregoing brief: description, it should be'clear to anyone familiar with the art that the entire sprinkler head assembly is free to rotate and to rise axially within the casing. It follows that, when the water is turned on in the irrigation pipe system, pressure of the water will force the assembly upward, thereby to unseat the valve 31 and to allow-the water to flow past the vanes 33 of the rotor which, by the pressure of the onrushing water is caused -to rotate and quickly to attain high speed or rotation. The rising water passes through a series of passages 40, through the, overhanging peripheral flanges of the top and bottom plates 20, 2|, from whence it flows through openings 4| in the wall of the riser IE, to flow through the latter into the nozzle support member 14'; finally to discharge through nozzles 42, 43., The water pressure continues to elevate the sprinkler head until a part of the transmission assembly, or the screen 48, moves into contact with a portion of the'partition 8, by friction to maintain the cylindrical gear container unturned during sprinkling operations. Should, however, in the course of time enough foreign matter find its way into the casing to settle below the nozzle support l4 and in the bearing between the partition 6 and the member [6 to retard or stop rotation of the nozzleassembly, then the pressure. exerted by the impellerv member through the reduction gears against the gear container will cause the container to rotate. The pressure,.which otherwise might be sufficient to shear the cotter key 25 or otherwise to damage the mechanism, is thereby relieved.

It is noticed that the upper end of the riser I6 is closed by a valve 53 which must be raised from its seat in order to provide free passage for the water to the nozzles in the manner which will be hereinafter described in detail.

Notches 44, 45 are sunk into the periphery of the top plate 10 and they are, in accordance with the present day sprinkler practice, proportioned evenly to distribute the spray over the space to be irrigated. To illustrate this important point, the notch 44 is relatively shallow and is placed in axial alignment with the passage through the nozzle 42. The notch 45 is out much deeper and a slot 46 is cut into the upper corner of the nozzle 42 to provide an upwardly directed outlet for water discharging through the nozzle. The result being that some of the discharging water rises through the inner portion of the notch 45 on a shorter curve to irrigate the area nearer the sprinkler head, whereas the water discharging axially'through the nozzle 43 passes on a longer, flatter curve to the outer portions of the area.

i It is believed that the foregoing description of the operation of the device should be sufficient to enable one conversant with the art to design and construct the device of the invention. In addition, it should be mentioned that, according to present day engineering practice, means should be embodied for screening out all grit and other foreign substances from the water before it flows into the nozzles. Illustrative of such means, I have shown a conically shaped screen 48 rising from the top plate 20 of the rotor to the pendent sleeve 1 of the plate 6. It may also be found advantageous to place a sealing ring 49 on the riser IE to contact the under surface of this plate, when the nozzle head assembly reaches its uppermost position duringirrigation operations, so to form a water seal between the chamber 9 and the space within the nozzle support l4.

Experience has taught me that, cases where sprinkler headsare placed at different elevations, as requiredto irrigate uneven or sloping ground, once the supply has been turned off, the water remaining in the higher portions of the system will flow back through the sprinkler heads at the lower portion of the system to form pools or to causesoil erosion about these lower sprinkler heads. Also that a considerable amount of more or less gritty soil becomes stirred up in these pools, gradually to settle within the sprinkler heads, often to cause considerable damage there- This condition is often so serious that it becomes necessary to remove the entire sprinkler head for cleaning after each irrigation. In-order to prevent such occurrences and so as to eliminate frequently recurring cleaning operations, I have provided the valve 3i which will become seated the moment the water supply is cut off and the sprinkler head assembly instantthrough the sprinkler head of my invention. To

this end, a recess 50 is sunk into the top plate H) of the assembly and a passage 5| leads from this recess through the bottom of the plate and the upper wall of the member 14 in axial align ment with the riser IS. A bolt 52 is seated in threads of this passage and it is fitted at the bottom thereof with a conical valve 53. A valve seat 54 is sunk into the top of the riser l6 of'a size to receive this valve, thereby to check backflow into the chamber 9. This valve, which in Fig. 2 is shown closed, is in order to prepare the device for the sprinkling operation first manual- 1y elevated sufficiently not only to provide clearance for the rising movement of the assembly but also to remain a sufficient distance above the fully elevated assembly to insure free pas,- sage for the stream of water flowing through the assembly. But when the valveis manually 5 closed, as indicated in Fig. 2, it will effectively prevent backflow through even the uppermost sprinkler heada In addition,'it may be found advantageous to mount an annular flanged?) on and as part of the plate 6 in close proximity to I the outer periphery of the nozzle support-M. With this flange in place, a considerable amount of grit may gradually over a long period of time accumulate within the space surrounding the flange before it becomes necessary to remove the assembly from the casing for cleaning.

In the types of projectable nozzle sprinkler heads'which have come to my notice, no single nozzleassembly is provided, but each part or sub-assembly of the mechanism must be 'removed separately in'order'effectively to perform the cleaning-operation; The nozzle head assembly of the present device eliminates such "laborious operations. 'When it"is found necessary or advisable to clean out the upper chamber 3, it is merely required to remove the screws 59 which clamp the'top plate H! in position on the nozzle support and then to remove thisplate.

' The partition 6 is designed for quick and convenient withdrawal to permit removal of the assembly as a whole. To this end an'annular rib 60 is made to project inwardly from the casing wall a short distance above the partition support surface 5 and a series of equidistantly. spaced notches 6i arecut through this rib. The partition 6 is made with similarly spaced radially directed projections 62' of asizeto passthrough these notches and bya slight rotation of the partition to slide under'the rib 66. In practice, a suitable spanner wrench is pushed through the top'plate notches M, 45 and caused to enter the two diametrically opposite recesses 26, 21 oithe partition 6 which appear through these notches. If none appear, it is merely required slightly to turn the top plate I0 and proper alignment is obtained. The wrench is then operated to move the projections 62 into registration with the notches Bl. The entire assembly may then be lifted out of the casing leaving the latter entirely open for cleaning.

- It was above stated that the cotter key 25 ties the gear casing to the riser [5. Upon withdrawal of this key, the entire lower portion of the assembly may be withdrawn from the upper part thereof for removal and cleaning of the screen 48 and such further servicing as may be required. And it is important to note that, during such removal operations and until'reseating is effected, the casing remains undisturbedin'the ground to bar entrance therein of dirt and grit. i

From the foregoing detailed description, it is seen that I have provided a very compact and conveniently operable sprinkler head. Particularly, it is to be noted that the device, as illustrated in the drawings, is considerable lower than any other of the same type that has come to my notice. When it is considered that the depth to which it is required to dig to install the sprinkler system depends upon the height ofthe sprinkler head, this becomes an important featureof the invention;

While under ordinary condition, where the sprinkler head is vertically mounted, it is found that the nozzle head assembly will instantly-return to bottom valve closing position when the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart insure complete seating of the valve 31 while the system remains dormant. 5

While I have in the foregoing described a preferred form of the invention, it will be understood-that I reserve the right to embody therein modificationswithin the scope of the claims hereto appended. I 5 1. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing openat the't'op and having at thebottom afcoaxial-water inlet shaped to form avalve seat, a sprinkler head seated in the casing 'for axial movement therein and removable therefrom" as a whole, said sprinkler head comprisingfajrotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact 'with the valve seat of the waterinlet, a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on said rotor but locked in position thereon against relativeaxial movement, and transmission gearing ex,- ten din g from the rotor to the nozzle support, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation to said rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support at a reduced rate of speed. v s V 2. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a co-' axial water inlet shapedto form a valve seat, a

sprinkler head seated'in the. casing for axial movement therein and removable therefrom as a whole, manually releasable means for locking the sprinkler head against removal from the easing, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valve seat of the water inlet, a coaxial nozzle support'rotatable on said rotor but locked in position thereon against relative axial movement, and transmission gearing ex-' tending from the rotor to thenozzle support,

water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the rotation to said rotor thereby through said gear ing to rotate the nozzle supportata reduced rate of speed.

3. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open, at the top and'having at the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, a sprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein and removable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in'contact with the valve seat of the water inlet,

causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat' against the tension of said resilient means simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head withinthe casing and to impart rotation to said rotor water supply is turned on; it becomes necessary I thereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support at a reduced rate of speed.

4. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a coaxial'water inlet shaped to form a valve seat,-

contact withthe valve seat of the water inlet,-

a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on said rotor but locked in position thereon against relative axial movement, transmission gearing extending from the rotor to the nozzle support, water pressure causingthe inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation, to said rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support at a reduced rate of speed, and means tightly enclosing said gearing, said means being normally free to rotate within the casing and held against rotation therein by frictional engagement with said locking means when the sprinkler head is fully elevated. I

5. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, a sprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein and removable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valve seat of the water inlet, a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on said rotor but locked in position thereon against relative axial movement, upwardly and outwardly directed nozzles seated in said support, a circular plate on the support normally closing the top of the casing, said plate having notches in the periphery thereof in alinement with the nozzle axes, and transmission gearing extending from the rotor to the nozzle support, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation to said rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support at a reduced rate of speed.

6. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, a sprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein and removable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valve seat of the water inlet, a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on said rotor but locked in position thereon against relative axial movement, transmission gearing extending from the rotor to the nozzle support, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation to said rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support at a reduced rate of speed, a valve seat in the nozzle support, and a valve for said seat, said valve being manually operable from above the nozzle support to adjust and entirely to shut oil the flow through the sprinkler head.

7. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, a sprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein and removable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valve seat of the water inlet, a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on said rotor but locked in position thereon against relative axial movement, upwardly and outwardly directed nozzles seated in said support, a circular plate on the support normally closing the top of the casing, said plate having notches in the periphery thereof in alinement with the nozzle axes, transmission gearing extending from the rotor to the nozzle support, Water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simulw taneously to elevat the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation to said rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support at a reduced rate of speed, a valve seat in said nozzle support, and a valve for engagement with said seat, the valve having a threaded stem rising therefrom seated in a threaded aperture of support for manual movement to move the valve to adjust and entirely to shut off the flow through the sprinkler head.

8. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, a sprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein and removable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valve seat of the water inlet, a coaxial stem rising from the rotor, a shaft in continued axial alinement with said stem, a gear rigid on the stem, a gear rigidly secured to the shaft, a train of reducing gears operatively interconnecting the two gears, a coaxial nozzle support riding on said shaft, and means for interlocking said support with the said shaft, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation to the rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate'the nozzle support at reduced speed.

9. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, a sprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein and removable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valve seat of the water inlet, a coaxial stem rising from the rotor, a shaft in continued axial alinement with said stem, a gear rigid on the stem, a gear rigidly secured to the shaft, a train of reducing gears operatively interconnecting the two gears, a coaxial nozzle support riding on said shaft, a closure for said gears riding on said stem and shaft, and means for interlocking said support with the said shaft, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation to the rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support at reduced speed.

10. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, a sprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein and removable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valve seat of the water inlet, a coaxial stem rising from the rotor, a shaft in continued axial alinement with said stem, a gear rigid on the stem, a gear rigidly secured to the shaft, a train of reducing gears operatively interconnecting the two gears, a coaxial nozzle support riding on said shaft, means for interlocking said support with the said shaft, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation to the rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support at reduced speed, and a screen between said closure and the said nozzle support.

11. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat,

a sprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein and removable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valve seat of the water inlet, a coaxial stem rising from the rotor, a shaft in continued axial alinement with said stem, a

gear rigid on the stem, a gear rigidly secured to the shaft, a train of reducing gears operatively interconnecting the two gears, a coaxial nozzle support riding on said shaft, means for interlocking said support with the said shaft, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation to the rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate the 10 nozzle support at reduced speed, a screen betweeri said closure and said nozzle support, and resilient means urging the sprinkler head downward to seat the inlet valve on its seat.

HARRY J. MCCOMBS BURDICK.

REFERENCES CITED The fcllowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITE-"D STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,425,191 Garbarini Aug. 3, 1922 1,753,841 Thompson Apr. 8, 1930 1,853,805 Elder Apr. 12, 1932 1,970,126 Buckner Aug. 14, 1934

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