ORBITAL SPRINKLER WITH SPEED CONTROL BRAKE

Abstract

A sprinkler head includes a sprinkler body, a nozzle positioned within the sprinkler body, a fixed gear coupled with the sprinkler body, a wobbler cage supported on the sprinkler body, and a water deflector plate coupled with the wobbler cage and disposed downstream of the nozzle. A brake assembly is coupled with the water deflector plate for slowing a rotating and wobbling motion of the wobbler cage and the water deflector plate. The brake assembly includes a shaft extending through the water deflector plate and a brake gear disposed at an end of the shaft, where the brake gear is engageable with the fixed gear. Among other advantages, the design eliminates the use of large fixed strut framework that creates dry shadows in the water pattern.

Claims

1. A sprinkler head comprising: a sprinkler body; a nozzle positioned within the sprinkler body; a fixed gear coupled with the sprinkler body; a wobbler cage supported on the sprinkler body; a water deflector plate coupled with the wobbler cage and disposed downstream of the nozzle; and a brake assembly coupled with the water deflector plate for slowing a rotating and wobbling motion of the wobbler cage and the water deflector plate, the brake assembly including a shaft extending through the water deflector plate and a brake gear disposed at an end of the shaft, wherein the brake gear is engageable with the fixed gear.

2. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the fixed gear comprises external gear teeth, and wherein the brake gear is engaged with the external gear teeth of the fixed gear.

3. A sprinkler head according to claim 2, wherein the external gear teeth are arranged according to a desired water pattern.

4. A sprinkler head according to claim 2, wherein the brake gear remains in engagement with the external gear teeth of the fixed gear regardless of whether water is flowing through the nozzle.

5. A sprinkler head according to claim 4, wherein the brake gear is always positioned out of a water stream flowing through the nozzle.

6. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, further comprising a gear plate secured to the sprinkler body and positioned between the nozzle and the wobbler cage, wherein the wobbler cage includes a wobbler ring having ridges that are engageable with the gear plate.

7. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the brake assembly is a viscous brake assembly that comprises a reservoir of viscous material disposed in the water deflector plate.

8. A sprinkler head according to claim 7, wherein the viscous brake assembly comprises a rotor disposed in the reservoir of viscous material and secured to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft.

9. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the fixed gear comprises a snout at a downstream end, the snout being positioned adjacent a shoulder of the water deflector plate, the snout acting as a stop to prevent damage to teeth of the fixed gear or the brake gear upon an application of a side load.

10. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the fixed gear comprises a ring gear having internal gear teeth, wherein in an active position of the wobbler cage, the brake gear is engaged with the internal gear teeth of the fixed gear.

11. A sprinkler head according to claim 10, wherein a distal end of the brake gear is angled, and wherein in an inactive position of the wobbler cage, the brake gear is coaxial with the ring gear.

12. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, further comprising a canister in which the nozzle, the fixed gear and the wobbler cage are selectively disposed.

13. A sprinkler head according to claim 12, wherein the wobbler cage is displaceable in the canister between a retracted position and an extended position.

14. A sprinkler head according to claim 13, wherein in the retracted position, the brake gear is coaxial with the fixed gear.

15. A sprinkler head according to claim 13, wherein in the extended position, at least a portion of the wobbler cage is disposed outside of the canister and the wobbler cage is pivotable into a use position, and wherein in the use position, the brake gear is engaged with the fixed gear.

16. A sprinkler head according to claim 13, wherein the wobbler cage is biased toward the retracted position by a spring.

17. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the brake gear comprises brake gear teeth that are engageable with corresponding fixed gear teeth of the fixed gear, and wherein the brake gear teeth extend radially into a water stream flowing through the nozzle when the brake gear is engaged with the fixed gear.

18. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the wobbler cage and the water deflector plate are displaceable between an inactive position in which the brake gear is not engaged with the fixed gear and an active position in which the brake gear is engaged with the fixed gear, wherein the brake gear comprises an internal water passage that is aligned with the nozzle in the inactive position.

19. A sprinkler head according to claim 18, wherein the internal water passage comprises a 90-degree bend.

20. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the wobbler cage and the water deflector plate are displaceable between an inactive position in which the brake gear is not engaged with the fixed gear and an active position in which the brake gear is engaged with the fixed gear, wherein the brake gear rests on the nozzle to cover the nozzle in the inactive position.

21. A sprinkler head according to claim 20, wherein the brake gear comprises an angled notch in a surface facing the nozzle.

22. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the fixed gear comprises gear teeth that are arranged according to a desired water pattern.

23. A sprinkler head comprising: a sprinkler body; a nozzle positioned within the sprinkler body; a fixed gear coupled with the sprinkler body; a wobbler cage supported on the sprinkler body; a water deflector plate coupled with the wobbler cage and disposed downstream of the nozzle, the water deflector plate including a cavity for housing a viscous material; and a viscous brake assembly coupled with the water deflector plate for slowing a rotating and wobbling motion of the wobbler cage and the water deflector plate, the viscous brake assembly including a shaft extending through the water deflector plate, a brake gear disposed at an end of the shaft, and a reservoir of viscous material in the cavity of the water deflector plate, wherein the brake gear is engageable with the fixed gear.

24. A sprinkler head according to claim 23, wherein the fixed gear comprises external gear teeth, and wherein the brake gear is engaged with the external gear teeth of the fixed gear.

25. A sprinkler head according to claim 24, wherein the brake gear remains in engagement with the external gear teeth of the fixed gear regardless of whether water is flowing through the nozzle.

26. A sprinkler head according to claim 23, wherein the wobbler cage and the water deflector plate are displaceable between an inactive position in which the brake gear is not engaged with the fixed gear and an active position in which the brake gear is engaged with the fixed gear.

27. A sprinkler head according to claim 26, wherein the fixed gear comprises a ring gear having internal gear teeth, wherein in the active position of the wobbler cage, the brake gear is engaged with the internal gear teeth of the fixed gear.

28. A sprinkler head according to claim 27, wherein a distal end of the brake gear is angled, and wherein in the inactive position of the wobbler cage, the brake gear is coaxial with the ring gear.

29. A sprinkler head according to claim 26, wherein the brake gear rests on the nozzle to cover the nozzle in the inactive position.

30. A sprinkler head according to claim 23, further comprising a canister in which the nozzle, the fixed gear and the wobbler cage are selectively disposed.

31. A sprinkler head according to claim 30, wherein the wobbler cage is displaceable in the canister between a retracted position and an extended position.

32. A sprinkler head according to claim 30, wherein in the extended position, at least a portion of the wobbler cage is disposed outside of the canister and the wobbler cage is pivotable into a use position, and wherein in the use position, the brake gear is engaged with the fixed gear.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a wobbler-type sprinkler head according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a close-up sectional view of the water deflector plate and brake assembly;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a wobbler-type sprinkler head according to another exemplary embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 5;

[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 5;

[0030] FIG. 8 shows a wobbler-type sprinkler head according to another exemplary embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 8;

[0032] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 8 with the water deflector plate in an inactive position;

[0033] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 10;

[0034] FIGS. 12-29 show exemplary gear configurations to effect different water patterns;

[0035] FIG. 30 shows a wobbler-type sprinkler in a pop-up canister;

[0036] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 30;

[0037] FIG. 32 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 31;

[0038] FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 31 with the wobbler cage being displaced toward an active position;

[0039] FIGS. 34 and 35 show the sprinkler head of FIG. 31 in an active position;

[0040] FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 31 with the wobbler cage in an active position;

[0041] FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 31 in a retracted position;

[0042] FIG. 38 shows a wobbler-type sprinkler head according to another exemplary embodiment;

[0043] FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 38;

[0044] FIG. 40 is a close-up sectional view showing the brake gear engaged with the ring gear;

[0045] FIGS. 41-43 are perspective views of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 38;

[0046] FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 38 with the wobbler cage in an inactive position;

[0047] FIG. 45 is a perspective view of a wobbler-type sprinkler head according to another exemplary embodiment;

[0048] FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 45;

[0049] FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view of the sprinkler head shown in FIG. 45 in an inactive position; and

[0050] FIG. 48 shows the sprinkler head of FIG. 45 in the inactive position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] FIGS. 1-4 show a wobbler-type sprinkler head 10 according to an exemplary embodiment. The sprinkler head 10 includes a sprinkler body 12 and a nozzle 14 positioned within the sprinkler body 12. In some embodiments, the nozzle 14 comprises a nozzle insert that is positionable in a sideways-oriented, complementary recess provided in the sprinkler body 12. The nozzle insert 14 may be formed as a substantially-cylindrical body, possibly injection-molded of hard plastic material such as PVC (or other suitable plastic or metal material). The nozzle 14 may be provided with a nozzle bore with an inlet in communication with water flow and an outlet or nozzle outlet orifice that nozzles or meters water output from the sprinkler body 12.

[0052] A fixed gear 16 is coupled with the sprinkler body 12, and a wobbler cage 18 is supported on the sprinkler body 12. A water deflector plate 20 is coupled with the wobbler cage 18 and disposed downstream of the nozzle 14. The water deflector plate 20 is positioned to intercept, i.e., deflect, the water flow output from the nozzle 14. The water deflector plate 20 includes a plurality of deflecting grooves 21 that deflect the water according to a predefined water pattern and also serve to impart a rotating moment on the deflector plate 20.

[0053] The wobbler cage 18 supports the water deflector plate 20 as shown. The wobbler cage 18 includes a wobbler ring 22 and a plurality of struts 24 connected to the wobbler ring 22. The water deflector plate 20 is connected to the wobbler cage 18 by the struts 24. The deflection grooves 21 of the water deflector plate 20 may be arranged relative to the struts 24 to minimize interference by the struts 24 during use. Regardless, since the wobbler cage 18 is turning during use, any interference by the struts 24 with the projected water flow is minimal and would not result in the shadow areas that are a problem with the existing strut framework of prior designs.

[0054] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the wobbler cage 18 is supported on the sprinkler body 12 by a gear plate 26 secured to the sprinkler body 12 and a shoulder 28 of the fixed gear 16. The wobbler cage 18 is positionable in the offset orientation shown in FIGS. 1-4 by virtue of the space between the gear plate 26 and the shoulder 28 and the size of an opening in the wobbler ring 22 over the sprinkler body 12. In some embodiments, with reference to FIG. 2, the gear plate 26 is integral with a sleeve member 30 secured below the nozzle housing. In some embodiments, with reference to FIG. 2, the fixed gear 16 is press and snap fitted into the sleeve member 30.

[0055] A brake assembly 32 is coupled with the water deflector plate 20 for slowing a rotating and wobbling motion of the wobbler cage 18 and the water deflector plate 20. The brake assembly 32 may include a shaft 34 that extends through the water deflector plate 20 and a brake gear 36 disposed at an end of the shaft. The brake gear 36 is engageable with the fixed gear 16. In some embodiments, the brake assembly 32 is a viscous brake assembly including a rotor 38 that is press fit to the shaft 34 and is rotatable with the shaft 34. A bearing 42 supports the opposite end of the shaft 34. A high-viscosity damping fluid fills the cavity 40 and acts between the rotor 38 and the deflector plate 20. Braking action is imparted when the fluid is sheared as the rotor 38 rotates relative to the deflector plate 20.

[0056] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the fixed gear 16 includes external gear teeth 44, and corresponding teeth of the brake gear 36 are engaged with the external gear teeth 44 of the fixed gear 16. As discussed in more detail below, the external gear teeth 44 may be arranged according to a desired water pattern. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the brake gear 36 remains in engagement with the external gear teeth 44 of the fixed gear 16 regardless of whether water is flowing through the nozzle 14. As a consequence, the brake gear 36 is always positioned out of a water stream flowing through the nozzle 14.

[0057] In use, water flowing through the nozzle 14 impacts the grooves 21 on the water deflector plate 20, which disperses the water according to a predefined water pattern. The water flow impacting the grooves 21 on the water deflector plate 20 causes the water deflector plate and the wobbler cage 18 to rotate. The brake gear 36 engaged with the teeth 44 of the fixed gear 16 serves to control a rotating speed of the water deflector plate 20. In some embodiments, an exemplary normal speed of rotation may be in the range of 0.5-5 RPM. By removing gear teeth 44 in selected locations of the fixed gear 16, the deflector plate 20 can orbit very quickly through some areas. In areas of unbraked orbital movement, the deflector plate 20 may quickly accelerate to a speed of several hundred RPMs or more, leaving very little water in these areas. Exemplary gear teeth configurations for the fixed gear 16 and the resulting water pattern wetted areas are shown in FIGS. 12-23.

[0058] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, since the brake gear 36 maintains its engagement with the fixed gear 16, the wobbler cage 18 and water deflector plate 20 are always tipped, eliminating the need for any other mechanism to get the deflector plate off-center at startup.

[0059] In some applications, the water deflector plate 20 may be subjected to side impact loads, e.g., being dragged through crops or the like. In order to prevent damage to the gear teeth 44 of the fixed gear 16 and/or the brake gear 36, the fixed gear 16 is provided with a snout 46 that extends below the gear 16, and the water deflector plate 20 is provided with a shoulder 48 that together take the load if the plate 20 gets struck from the side. See, e.g., FIG. 3. As such, the brake gear 36 and the shaft 34 can be protected from overload. Additionally, with particular reference to FIG. 4, the wobbler ring 22 may be provided with ridges 50 that are engageable with the gear plate 26 as the wobbler cage 18 is rotated. The gear plate 26 and ridges 50 maintain control and alignment of the wobbler cage 18 during use. In an exemplary construction, the gear plate 26 may have fifteen teeth, and there may be sixteen ridges 50 on the wobbler ring 22. As the unit orbits, the meshing of these teeth prevent rotary slippage of the wobbler cage 18; and also with each orbit, the cage advances one tooth, thereby clocking the spokes of water coming off the grooves 21 to fill in the water pattern.

[0060] FIGS. 5-7 show an alternative embodiment of the wobbler-type sprinkler head according to the invention. In this and subsequent embodiments, similar elements are identified with like reference numerals preceded by a third digit.

[0061] The sprinkler head 110 in FIGS. 5-7 including a sprinkler body 112 utilizes a ring gear 116 with internal gear teeth as the fixed gear rather than the fixed gear 16 with external teeth shown in FIGS. 1-4. With the ring gear 116 and internal gear teeth, the wobbler cage 118 is positionable into an inactive position when no water is flowing through the nozzle 114 in which the wobbler cage 118 is generally level and the brake gear 136 is coaxial with an outlet of the nozzle 114 or the ring gear 116. In an active position as shown in FIGS. 5-7, the wobbler cage 118 is pivoted such that the brake gear 136 is engaged with the internal gear teeth of the fixed/ring gear 116.

[0062] In this embodiment, the gear plate 126 may be without spokes, and corresponding ridges 150 are provided on a deflector plate side of the wobbler ring 122 and an upstream surface of the ring gear 116. See FIGS. 5 and 7.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 7, a distal end 152 of the brake gear 136 may be angled relative to a flow of water through the nozzle 114. In some embodiments, at startup, in the inactive position, the wobbler cage will be hanging straight down. As water flows through the nozzle 114 and impacts the angled distal end 152 of the brake gear 136, the angle of the distal end 152 will force the deflector plate 120 and wobbler cage 118 off center. Once the wobbler cage 118 and deflector plate 120 are displaced, water flow through the nozzle 114 will maintain the offset orientation of the wobbler cage 118.

[0064] Gear teeth from the ring gear 116 may similarly be removed so that the deflector plate 120 can orbit very quickly through some areas to control the water pattern. Exemplary gear teeth configurations for the gear 116 and the resulting water pattern wetted areas are shown in FIGS. 24-29.

[0065] FIGS. 8-11 show another alternative construction for the wobbler-type sprinkler head 210 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the brake gear is replaced with a yoke arm 236 that is sized and positioned to loosely straddle a fixed sleeve 216. The wobbler cage 218 and water deflector plate 220 are pivotable between an inactive position (shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) and an active position (shown in FIGS. 8 and 9). The wobbler ring 222 of the wobbler cage 218 is positioned between the gear plate 226 and the shoulder 228 of the fixed sleeve 216.

[0066] In use, a water stream from the nozzle 214 impacts an angled surface 252 of the yoke arm 236 to force the wobbler cage 218 to an offset position toward the active position. Subsequently, the water flow impacting the water deflector plate 220 maintains the wobbler cage 218 and the deflector plate 220 in the active position. The yoke arm 236 is fixed to the shaft 234 of the brake assembly 232.

[0067] In the active position, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the yoke arm 236 engages the fixed sleeve 216 such that the orbital motion of the wobbler cage 218 causes the yoke arm 236 to rotate around the fixed sleeve 216 and also to rotate brake shaft 234, thereby braking the orbital motion of the wobbler cage 218. At rest, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the brake shaft 234 is aligned with the nozzle 214 and the center of the sprinkler body 212.

[0068] FIGS. 30-37 illustrate another exemplary alternative embodiment of the wobbler-type sprinkler head 310 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the nozzle, fixed gear and wobbler cage are selectively disposable in a canister 354. The wobbler cage 318 is displaceable in the canister 354 between a retracted position (FIGS. 30-32 and 37) and an extended position (FIGS. 33-36). Like conventional pop-up sprinkler assemblies, the sprinkler head is typically mounted on a riser or the like. The sprinkler components are biased to the retracted position by a spring 356 secured in the housing 312. The assembly 332 is displaced to its extended position by pressure exerted by the water flow through the nozzle 314. These components and their operation are generally known, and the details thereof will not be further described.

[0069] In the retracted position, the brake gear 336 is aligned with the nozzle 314 and is coaxial with the fixed gear 316. Once the nozzle 314, wobbler cage 318 and water deflector plate 320 are displaced to the extended position by water flow through the nozzle 314, the wobbler cage 318 is pivotable into a use position as shown in FIGS. 34-36. In the use position, the brake gear 336 is engaged with the fixed gear 316. The shape and orientation of the grooves 321 in the water deflector plate 320 cause the wobbler cage 318 and the water deflector plate 320 to rotate. As shown in FIG. 35, the brake gear 336 is provided at its distal end 352 with an angled surface so that in the resting position, at startup, the water flow impacts the angled surface of the distal end 352 to force the wobbler cage 318 off center. Like prior embodiments, the wobbler ring 322 of the wobbler cage 318 is positioned between a ledge or shoulder 328 of the fixed gear 316 and a gear plate 326. When the water flow is terminated, the spring 356 draws the nozzle 314, the wobbler cage 318 and the water deflector plate 320 back into the canister 354, and the wobbler cage 318 is pivoted back to its rest position shown in FIGS. 31, 32 and 37. Since the wobbler cage 318 is pivotable to the orientation shown in FIGS. 31, 32 and 37, the unit can fit into a relatively small diameter canister. Moreover, during startup, if the water pressure is coming up slowly, while the pressure is still low and the wobbler cage 318 has not tilted over yet, the wobbler cage 318 and deflector plate 320 are free to spin and water will be flowing over the brake gear 336 and into the grooves 321 in the deflector plate 320. This action creates small moving streams that are easy on the soil as compared to many sprinklers that have a very large concentrated, slow-moving stream at startup, which can be erosive to the soil and disturb germinating seeds. At some point, the pressure will get high enough at the angled face 352 to create a sufficient force to tilt the wobbler cage 318, and the unit will then operate normally.

[0070] FIGS. 38-44 show another alternative embodiment of the wobbler-type sprinkler head according to the invention. The sprinkler head 410 including a sprinkler body 412 is not shown in a pop-up application but as would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the assembly could be put into a canister for such an application.

[0071] In this embodiment, teeth 437 of the brake gear 436 are engageable with corresponding fixed gear teeth 444 of the fixed gear 416. As shown in FIGS. 39-42, the brake gear teeth 437 extend radially into a water stream flowing through the nozzle 414 when the brake gear 436 is engaged with the fixed gear 416 (i.e., in an active/use position as shown in FIGS. 38-43). The teeth 437 of the brake gear 436 intermittently interrupt the stream between the nozzle 414 and the grooves 421 of the deflector plate 420 to further provide intermittent diffusion of the stream to fill in the distribution pattern. In this context, in all embodiments, significant intermittent diffusion of the stream occurs as the plate grooves of the water deflector plate move in and out of the stream during normal rotation of the deflector plate. This embodiment provides additional intermittent diffusion by the radially extended teeth 437 of the brake gear 436.

[0072] The brake gear 436 also may be provided with an internal water passage 452. See FIG. 39. The internal water passage 452 includes a bend as shown, which may be a 90-degree turn. In the startup mode, the stream is captured in the passage 452 and then turned by the bend (e.g., 90 degrees) to create an overturning moment to kick the wobbler cage 418 off center into the use position.

[0073] FIGS. 45-48 show another alternative embodiment of the wobbler-type sprinkler head 510 including a sprinkler body 512 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the wobbler cage 518 and the water deflector plate 520 are displaceable between the inactive position in which the brake gear 536 is not engaged with the fixed gear 516 (FIGS. 47 and 48) and an active position in which the brake gear 536 is engaged with the fixed gear 516 (FIGS. 45 and 46). In the inactive position, the brake gear 536 rests on the nozzle 514 to cover the nozzle. The capped off nozzle prevents insects from crawling into the nozzle when the unit is off. This feature prevents plugging of small nozzles that are used in certain applications. In this embodiment, the brake gear 536 is provided with an angled notch 552 in a surface facing the nozzle 514 to push the wobbler cage 518 and the deflector plate 520 toward the offset use position at startup.

[0074] The described embodiments provide for braking of the orbital action of a wobbler cage without using large fixed strut framework. The resulting structure reduces costs and sprinkler head size while also eliminating the dry shadows in the water pattern created by the fixed strut portions of prior designs. Eliminating the struts also prevents stringy material such as moss or food processing waste in the water to hairpin and build up on the struts. Still further, water patterns can be readily selected by positioning and/or removing teeth from the fixed gear or otherwise switching out the fixed gear to one suited for the desired water pattern. The action of the plate grooves moving in and out of the nozzle stream creates emerging/receding streams that fill in the water pattern for good distribution uniformity without an external diffuser.

[0075] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.