US2266573A - Sprinkler - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 16, 1941.

C. N. STONE SPRINKLER Filed Aug. 19, 1939 IN VENT OR. Zone v glare/2 Ce BY% M;7

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRINKLER Clarence N. Stone, Newton, Mass. Application August 19, 1939, Serial NQ.'291,063 6 Claims. ,(Cl. 299-64) widely used to supplement rainfall to maintain.

gardens, lawns and the like in proper condition. While many such devices have been proposed for these and similar purposes, the types of sprinkler most commonly used consisted of a spray head connected to a source by a suitable conduit, or a rotatable spray head actuated by the reactive force of the discharged water.

Several objections exist to such sprinklers. Among the most serious of these may be noted the difficulty of moving them without first shutif ting oii the flow of Water, and the dimculty of properly wetting the surface adjacent walks and the like without likewise wetting the walks.

In accordance with my invention, my novel oscillating sprinkler includes a rotatable spray head of any desired length. The spray headin-- cludes at least two oppositely disposed branch conduits having outlet'ports so disposed that the reactive force of water delivered through one port is opposed by the reactive force of water delivered through another port. Oscillation of the spray head is controlled by a valve mechanism operable by gravity to'open one port when it closes another port so that the reactive force of water delivered through the open port is available to rotate the spray head in one direction. Partial rotation of the spray head results in the actuation of the valve mechanism to close the open port and to open the closed port to cause rotation of the spray head in the other direction.

' In spray devices in accordance with my invention, I employ novel means to reduce the friction on the oscillating spray head to a minimum and atthesame time maintain the joint between it tures and advantages will be readily apparent.

In the drawing:

' Fig. 1 is a view of an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlargedfragmentary view of the automatic valve control in a position opposite to that-shown in Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional fragmentary View of a valve, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the spray head.

At I and 2 I have indicated the supports for my device which are formed to establish legs -3 and are interconnected by rods 4. If desired, the feet or legs 3 may be provided with wheels or the like, but as shown in the drawing the heads I and 2 may be formed to establish rims la and 2a to combine the essential rigidity with a minimum of weight.

. The spray head 5 comprises a hollow pipe closed at one end and provided with a spindle 6 'for which I provide an anti-friction bearing 1 in The head 5'15 supported at its other end by the water inlet conduit 9 carried by the support I and to which the hose H] is detachably coupled. As shown in Fig. 3, the inlet 9 receives the open end of the spray head 5 and to render the joint water tight I position within the inlet 9 a washer element II. In practice I use a leather cup-shaped washer that may be considered as including a sleeve portion Ha, the inside diameter of which is substantially the same as that of the head 5 and a shoulder portion llb, the inside diameter of which is less than that of the head 5. p

The washer element II is loosely confined adjacent the open end of the head 5 by any suitable means such as the spring, ring l2 lodged in the annular groove I3 in the inlet 9. In Fig. 4, the washer element II and the ring I2 are shown, for clarity, spaced from each other and the end of the head 5 a greater distance than in actual practice.

In use, the pressure of the water forces the washer l 1 against the open end of the head 5 and tightly against the inlet 9. Because the area of engagement of'the portion llb with the open end of the head 5 is less than the area of engagement of the portion Ha with the inlet 9, oscillation of the head 5 has no efiect onthe washer ll.

While the washer ll may be leather, it may also be of any suitable material having sufficient flexibility to be maintained in sealing relation to the head 5 and the inlet 9 by the pressure of the "removed and replaced when necessary.

delivered fluid. The washer may be reinforced, if desired, as by a metal ring He.

The hose ID may be attached to the spray head in any other manner but the use of my novel liquid tight and nearly frictionless joint is obviously desirable since it is desirable to avoid water leakage and any interference with the free oscillation of the spray head 5.

The spray head 5 carries pipe sections l4 and I5 establishing a T having spaced outlet ports I6 and IT. The ends of the pipes I4 and I5 are closed as at I8 by plugs which may be removed to drain the sprinkler or to permit it to be flushed out.

At I9 and 20 I have shown links pivotally connected to a rod or tube 2| and to the pipes I4 and I5 adjacent the outlet ports I6 and I1, respectively. Each of the links l9 and 20 imcludes a cage portion 22 for the valve members 23 and 24, respectively, which may be readily The cages 22 are adjustably locked in proper position as by set screws 22a through the slots lea and 20a in the links I9 and 20.

In operation water delivered through the head 5 to the pipes I4 and I5 is discharged through the spray jets 8 and through whichever of the ports I6, I! is open. While it is theoretically possible that the rod or tube 2| be so balanced that both of the ports I6 and I"! are open, it will be found in practice that this situation never results and therefore only one of the ports I6, I! will be open and available to start the oscillation of the head 5.

Water discharged through the open port (I6 in Fig. 1 and I! in Fig. 2) has a reactive force effective to swing the pipes l4 and I5 and turn the head 5 on its axis. 'When the pipes l4 and I5 have swung beyond a horizontal position, the

tube or rod 2| is shifted by gravity causing a simultaneous closing of the port I6 and an opening of the port I! as indicated in Fig. 2. It is a requirement of the rod 2| that it connect the valves for simultaneous movement and have sufiicient weight to provide positive valve closing and cooperate with the reactive force of the water in effecting an even oscillation of the sheet of spray established by the jets 8.

It should be noted that the weight of the rod 2| is not the only factor involved in controlling the ports I6 and I1. Because of the leverage established by the links I9 and 20 on the rod 2|,

these parts may be kept relatively light and still .delivered through the newly opened port opposes the rotative influence of the rod 2| on the spray head 5 and that the water delivered through the other port as it is closed, provides a hydraulic cushion for the valve. Thus, the momentum in one direction is not immediately checked with the closing of a port, but the water discharged through the opened port is effective to gradually check movement in one direction and cause a reverse movement so that harsh or irregular oscillation of the head 5 is avoided. There is no necessity, when my devices are in use, for a mechanical bumper, although one may be employed to cushion the arms when the device is being moved.

Because variations in water pressure may interfere with the most satisfactory operation of my invention by causing too rapid oscillation, and because the water pressure utilized to actuate my sprinkler may be materially less than that of the water in the hose I0, I prefer to employ a valve 25 in the head 5, whereby the effective reactive pressure may be regulated. If desired, the flow of water to the arms l4 and I5 may be prevented, establishing a stationary spray which is sometimes desired.

In accordance with my invention I am therefore able to provide a satisfactory sprinkler which not only effectively sprays a rectangular area with a regularly oscillating curtain of water, but which may be readily moved from one position to another without shutting off the water. While my novel sprinkler may be approached from either end, it may be most conveniently approached from the end established by the support 2, since if desired, either the arm I4 or the arm I5 may be held, preventing oscillation while water is still being discharged through the spray jets 8 so that the sprinkler may be safely moved or the valve 25 adjusted. On release of the retained arm, the oscillation will immediately commence.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sprinkler comprising a support, a spray head horizontally mounted in said support for axial rotation, means to cause said head to oscillate, said means'comprising a pair of conduits carried by said head, each of said conduits including an outlet port and said conduits being so disposed relative to each other and'said head that the reactive force of water delivered through said ports is mutually opposed, and gravity operated valve means to eifect the opening of one port simultaneously with the closing of the other port so that said ports .are alternately opened, whereby the reactive force of water discharged "through said ports effects oscillation of said head.

2. A sprinkler comprising a support, a spray head horizontally mounted in said support for axial rotation, means to cause said head to oscillate, said means including a pair of conduits carried by said head, each of said conduits including an outlet port and said conduits being so disposed relative to each other and said head that the reactive force of water delivered through said ports is mutually opposed, and valve means to open and close said ports so that said ports are alternately opened, whereby the reactive force of water discharged through said ports is controlled to effect oscillation of said head, said valve means including a valve pivotally mounted adjacent each port, and a link interconnecting said valves.

3. A sprinkler comprising 'a support, a spray head horizontally mounted in said support for axial rotation and means to cause said head to oscillate, said means including a pair of conduits carried by said head, each of said conduits including an outlet port and said conduits being so disposed relative to each other and said head that the reactive force of water deliveredlthrough said ports is mutually opposed, and valve means to open and close said ports sothat said ports are alternately opened, whereby the reactive force of water discharged through said ports is controlled to effect oscillation of said head, said valve means including a weighted member, a link pivotally connected to said weighted member and to said conduits adjacent each of said ports, each of said links including a cage and a replaceable valve member in each cage.

4. A sprinkler comprising a support, a spray head horizontally mounted in said support for axial rotation and means to cause said head to oscillate, said means including a pair of conduits carried by said head, each of said conduits including an outlet port and said conduits being so disposed relative to each other and said head that the reactive force of water delivered through said ports is mutually opposed, and valve means to open and close said ports so that said ports are alternately opened, whereby the reactive force of Water discharged through said ports is controlled to effect oscillation of said head, said valve means including a weighted member, a link pivotally connected to said Weighted member and to said conduits adjacent each of said ports, a valve member for each port, a cage for each valve member, and means adjustably connecting said cages to said links.

5. A sprinkler comprising a support, a spray head horizontally mounted in said support for axial rotation and including a pair of conduits having outlet ports, said conduits being so disposed relative to each other that the reactive force of water delivered through said ports is mutually opposed, a valve for each port and gravity operated means to simultaneously actuate said valves so that when one port is open, the other port is closed, said gravity operated means first retarding partial rotation of said head in one direction effected by the reactive force of water delivered through one port, then closing that port and continuing rotation of said head in that direction until the reactive force of water delivered through the other port is effective to cause partial rotation of said head in the other direction.

6. A sprinkler comprising a spray head, a support, means on said support rotatably supporting said head, said means including a bearing for one end of said head adapted to take thrust and radial loads, a conduit adapted to detachably receive a hose or the like and to receive the other end of said head, means in said conduit to seal the joint between said conduit and said head, said sealing means comprising a cupshaped Washer including a sleeve portion and a shoulder portion, said portions being adapted to be forced into tight engagement with said conduit and the end of said head by the pressure of fluid in said conduit, means to confine said washer in said conduit adjacent the end of said head, and means to oscillate said head, said means including a pair of conduits having outlet ports so disposed relative to each other that the reactive force of water discharged through said ports is mutually opposed and gravity operated valve means to eflect the opening of one port simultaneously with the closing of the other port.

CLARENCE N. STONE.

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