A rotating distributor for use in a rotary type sprinkler is conically shaped and includes a plurality of water channels provided on a bottom surface thereof to guide water from a center axis of the distributor radially outward to an outer circumference of the distributor. The grooves are provided to collect and guide the water with a minimum of spray and turbulence and to impart rotation on the distributor. The depth of the grooves may be used to control flow and range as desired. An elevation control ring may be provided to vary the elevation angle of water leaving the grooves to control range. A kick angle control element may be provided to modify a kick angle at an outer circumferential end of selected grooves to provide speed control, if desired.

A rotating distributor for use in a rotary type sprinkler is conically shaped and includes a plurality of water channels provided on a bottom surface thereof to guide water from a center axis of the distributor radially outward to an outer circumference of the distributor. The grooves are provided to collect and guide the water with a minimum of spray and turbulence and to impart rotation on the distributor. The depth of the grooves may be used to control flow and range as desired. An elevation control ring may be provided to vary the elevation angle of water leaving the grooves to control range. A kick angle control element may be provided to modify a kick angle at an outer circumferential end of selected grooves to provide speed control, if desired.

In one aspect, a sprinkler is provided having a nozzle, a deflector that receives fluid flow from the nozzle, and a friction or viscous brake assembly that controls rotation of a deflector. The friction or viscous brake assembly is releasably connected to the frame in order to enhance serviceability of the sprinkler. In another aspect, a sprinkler is provided having a frame, a deflector rotatably connected to the frame, a nozzle, and a nozzle socket of the frame. The nozzle and nozzle socket have interlocking portions that releasably connect the nozzle to the frame. The nozzle may be easily removed for servicing. Further, the nozzle socket can be configured to receive a plurality of nozzles having different flow characteristics. A nozzle can be selected and utilized with the sprinkler according to the desired application for the sprinkler.

In one aspect, a sprinkler is provided having a nozzle, a deflector that receives fluid flow from the nozzle, and a friction or viscous brake assembly that controls rotation of a deflector. The friction or viscous brake assembly is releasably connected to the frame in order to enhance serviceability of the sprinkler. In another aspect, a sprinkler is provided having a frame, a deflector rotatably connected to the frame, a nozzle, and a nozzle socket of the frame. The nozzle and nozzle socket have interlocking portions that releasably connect the nozzle to the frame. The nozzle may be easily removed for servicing. Further, the nozzle socket can be configured to receive a plurality of nozzles having different flow characteristics. A nozzle can be selected and utilized with the sprinkler according to the desired application for the sprinkler.

A rotational speed control device includes a housing containing a viscous fluid, a shaft disposed in the housing and rotatable relative to the housing, a hub assembly secured to the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and a rotor coupled with the shaft by a frictional engagement with the hub assembly. A spring is disposed in the housing and acts on the rotor to bias the rotor axially on the shaft in a low torque direction. A braking torque between the rotor and the housing is varied according to an axial position of the rotor on the shaft.

A rotational speed control device maintains a shaft rotation speed. The device includes a housing containing a viscous fluid and a shaft disposed in the housing and rotatable relative to the housing. A rotor is coupled with the shaft for rotation in the viscous fluid. In one arrangement, the rotor is axially displaceable along the shaft between a low-shear position and a high-shear position. A spring mechanism is disposed in the housing and biases the rotor toward the low-shear position. In another arrangement, the rotor may be designed to cooperate with the housing or other nonrotating features within the housing to vary a shear gap according to radially expanding components of the rotor. The rotor, housing and spring mechanism can be designed to cooperate to create large changes in braking torque in response to small changes in shaft rotational speed. This allows the rotation speed to be controlled within a relatively narrow range.

A nozzle assembly for discharging high-pressure liquid. The nozzle assembly includes a housing body and a nozzle shaft rotatably mounted therein. A nozzle head is coupled to the nozzle shaft. The nozzle shaft and the nozzle head define a portion of a fluid pathway extending from an inlet end of the housing body to a set of directional nozzles disposed at a discharge end of the nozzle head. The nozzle shaft and the nozzle head are configured to rotate together in response to a discharge of a liquid from the set of directional nozzles. The nozzle assembly also includes a friction brake assembly housed within the housing body. The friction brake assembly converts a centrifugal force generated by a rotation of the nozzle shaft and the nozzle head into an axial force that reduces a rate of rotation of the nozzle shaft and the nozzle head into a desired range.