US2214990A - Intermittent rotation sprinkler - Google Patents

Description

Sept 17, 1940. w; A. BucKNER INTERMITTENT ROTATION SPRINKIJER Filed July 21, 1957 INVENTOR VVW/A B LLCjczzel BY uw ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to rotary water sprinklers of the type adapted to be mounted in upstanding relation to the ground and including opposed radially disposed nozzles through which 5 the water is discharged.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a rotation controlling device, actuated by water discharged from one nozzle, which will cause the sprinkler to be given intermittent rotative impulses, and which at the same time and in the same direction exerts an intermittent tapping or jarring action on the rotating member of the sprinkler preventing possible sticking of the sprinkler spindle in its bearing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose which may be readily adjusted to alter the speed of rotation of the sprinkler as operating conditions may require.

Another object is to provide a simplilied and improved form of bearing for the rotating spindle of the sprinkler, so that the likelihood of sand or the like getting against the bearing surface is avoided. An efficient form of combination annular and thrust bearing unitis also provided, which is easily replaced if worn but whose wear will not alTect the efficient operation of the sprinkier or the functioning of the sand sealing feature.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specication and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sprinkler with the bearing structure in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan of the rotation controlling unit of the sprinkler partly in section.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, I denotes a tubular base or supporting member tapped at its lower end for connection with a vertical water Supply pipe.

Removably screwed into the member -I from the top is a bearing sleeve 2 in which a tubular sprinkler head spindle 3 is turnable. A compressible leather sand sealing washer or ring 4 engages the spindle adjacent its lower end and below the sleeve and is removably held in place, in a compressive and spindle engaging relation, between the lower end of the sleeve and an internal flange 5 in the member I.

Formed in the member I below the spindle is a central boss 6 in which an annular e-nd thrust bearing ring 'I of special wear resisting metal is removably mounted. The ring 'I at the bottom is engaged by a ring or washer 8 of similar metal disposed under the head of a bearing pin 9 and removable therefrom. This pin turnably projects through the ring 'I and is removably screwed into a boss I0 disposed below but connected integral with the spindle by arms II so as not to interfere with the free` iiow of water into the spindle from below.

By means of this construction it will be seen that the sleeve is journaled along spaced areas,

,giving excellent support against any tendency to bind, while the upward thrust is taken by the special thrust rings I and 8. The pins 9 and the rings being removable, they can be easily replaced if undue wear occurs. I can also be replaced by removingthe sleeve 2, and since it engages only the circumferential surface of the spindle, slight vertical play of the spindle does not effect the sealing action.

IThe spindle at its upper end is connected to the base of the sprinkler head I2, from which diametrally opposed and relatively short and long nozzle arms I3 and lita respectively project upwardly at an acute angle to the horizon, the arms and nozzle tips I4 providing jet openings at their upper ends, adapted to throw water in straight radial directions.

Projecting laterally from the arm I3 near the base I2 are vertically spaced lugs I5 between which is pivoted the adjacent end of an arm I6. This arm extends alongside the nozzle I3 to a termination beyond the tip III, and is there connected to a water deflecting passage member II which extends lengthwise of the nozzle arm. The interior of the member l1 is preferably rectangular in cross section and is open to the tip I4. At the end of said member nearest the tip and on the side nearest the arm I6, the corresponding vertical wall of the passage slopes into the path of water issuing from the jet opening as shown` at I8. At its outer end said vertical wall of the passage curves as at I9 to the opposite side of the member, from which the water discharges through a side opening 20 disposed in a vertical' plane and facing away from the arm I6.

By reason of this construction it will be seen that water issuing under pressure from the jet opening of the nozzle strikes the deflecting surface I8 and causes .the arm I6 to swing away from the nozzle arm. This movement is yieldably resisted by an adjustable tension spring 2| mounted on a rod 22 which projects through the arm I6 from a rigid connection with the nozzle arm I3. A definite stop for the movement of the arm I6 is provided by a bumper 23, preferably oi noise deadening material, which is adjustably mounted' on another rod 24 also projecting through the arm I6 from the nozzle arm I3.

In operation water striking the deilecting member II from the nozzle tip causes said. mem- The sealing ring ber to Ibe thrown suddenly out of the path of the water. The arm I6 is of course likewise moved and strikes the bumper 23 with an impact suicient to impart rotation to the sprinkler head, accompanied b-y a slight jar in the same direction which prevents any tendency of the sprinkler spindle to bind. A certain lamount of rotative impulse is also imparted to the sprinkler by the reaction of the water issuing from the side discharge opening 2li and by the initial movement of the arm against the spring resistance.

Once the water has thrown the arm out against the bumper, where it is clear of the path of the water, the spring immediately returns said arm to its original position adjacent the nozzle arm, wh-ere the deflector is again acted on by the water and again thrown out. The arm and delector thus continually oscillate through the length of the stroke governed by the position of the bumper, as long as water is issuing under pressure from the nozzle, and thus the sprinkler is being given constantly recurring rotative impulses, each one of course rotatingr the sprinkler through a very small arc.

The actual speed of rotation of the sprinkler depends of course on the number of rotative impulses given the arm I6 by the water and this is determined by the adjustment of the bumper 23 along the rod 2d. This is because the shorter the swing or stroke of the arm, the quicker will be its return, and hence the arm will be oscillated a greater number of times in a given period and Vice versa. The intensity of the jarring action of the arm against the bumper may be controlled by adjusting the tension oi the spring, since it will be evident that if the spring is quite slack the arm will fly out and hit the bumper with greater force than if the spring offers considerable resistance. rIhis adjustment of the spring also -enables the movement of the arm to be properly controlled according to the pressure of the water which of course may vary at diiierent times or in different installations.

It may be here stated that the mounting of the spindle as described is such as to provide a smaller bearing resistance than the reactionary drive eiect obtained by water striking the deflector.

Thus while the main rotative impulse is obtained by the defiector arm striking the bumper, a certain amount of rotative action is imparted to the sprinkler by the movement of said arm before it strikes the bumper, if the spring has suiiicient tension.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as dened by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A constant direction rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation and having a nozzle member projecting therefrom and provided with a jet opening, an arm mounted on said member for oscillatory movement in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of the sprinkler, a water deiiecting element rigid with said arm and normally positioned in the path of water issuing from said opening and arranged with respect to the direction of water ow to be moved in said plan-e and away from the nozzle member by the force of the water, whereby said arm will also be swung away from the member, a bumper fixed with the member in position to be engaged by the arm after it has swung out a predetermined distance, and means to return the arm to its normal position.

2. A device as in claim 1 with means to adjust the position of the bumper whereby to alter the throw of the arm.

3. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation and having a nozzle member projecting therefrom and provided with a jet opening, an arm mounted on said member for oscillatory movement in a plane substantially at right angles to the airis oi rotation of the sprinkler, a water deiiecting element rigid with said arm and normallypositioned in the path of vwater issuing from said opening and arranged with respect to the direction of water flow to be moved away from the nozzle member by the force ci the water, whereby said arm will also be swung away from the member, a bumper xed with the memberin position to be engaged by the arm after it has swung out a predetermined distance, a spring to return th-e arm to its normal position, means to alter the eiifectiveness of the spring.

4. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation and having a nozzle member projecting therefrom and provided with a iet opening, an arm mounted for oscillatory movement on said member, means provided with the arm whereby water issuing from the jet opening under pressure will swing the arm away from the member, means to return the arm to its normal position whereby the arm will constantly oscillate as long as a jet of water under pressure emerges from the opening and means between the arm and member to impart a rotative irnpulse to the m-ember with each oscillation thereof, and means to vary the number of oscillations of the arm in a given period and without altering the pressure of the water.

-5. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation and having a nozzle member projecting therefrom and provided withv ber with each outward movement of the arm,l

and means to alter the length of the outward stroke of' the arm.

WlLLlAM A. BUCKNER.

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