Rotary sprinkler head

Abstract

A rotary sprinkler head comprising a sprinkler body devoid of any operative dynamic seals for communicating a source of water under pressure with an outlet for directing water under pressure communicated therewith into an atmospheric condition in a primary stream having a generally vertically extending axis. A rotary distributor is provided which has surfaces for engaging the primary stream (1) to establish a reactionary force component acting on the distributor in a direction tangential to the rotational axis thereof so as to effect rotational movement thereof about its axis of rotation and (2) to direct the primary stream engaged thereby in the form of a pattern forming stream or streams including at least one stream moving away from the distributor in a direction having a substantial component extending outwardly from the generally vertical axis of the primary stream so as to define the radius of the circular spray pattern. A speed reducing assembly is operatively associated with the distributor for reducing the rotational speed of the distributor resulting from the reactionary force component from a relatively high whirling speed which would occur without the speed reducing assembly to a relatively slow speed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary sprinkler head comprising: a sprinkler body having an outlet and means devoid of any operative dynamic seals for communicating a source of water under pressure with said outlet,   said outlet being defined by surface means for directing water under pressure communicated therewith into an atmospheric condition in a primary stream having a generally vertically extending axis,   a rotary distributor mounted for rotational movement about a rotational axis with respect to said sprinkler body in engaging relation with respect to the primary stream directed from said outlet,   said rotary distributor having surface means for engaging the primary stream (1) to establish a reactionary force component acting on said distributor in a direction tangential to the rotational axis thereof so as to effect rotational movement thereof about said axis of rotation and (2) to direct the primary stream engaged thereby in the form of pattern forming stream means including at least one stream moving away from said distributor in a direction having a substantial component extending radially outwardly from the generally vertical axis of said primary stream,   speed reducing means operatively associated with said distributor for reducing the rotational speed of the distributor resulting from said reactionary force component from a relatively high whirling speed which would occur without said speed reducing means to a relatively slow speed so related to the distributor surface means forming the pattern forming stream means as to permit (1) said one stream to leave said distributor surface means with sufficient stream integrity to flow outwardly a distance substantially as great as the same said one stream would flow if the distributor were held stationary and (2) all of the pattern forming stream means including said one stream to be distributed within a generally circular pattern with a desired droplet size and with a desired water distribution within said generally circular pattern, the radius of said generally circular pattern being defined by the maximum extent of flow of said one stream.   
     
     
       2. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein the direction said one stream moves away from said distributor includes an upward component. 
     
     
       3. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein said one stream comprises the entire pattern forming stream means. 
     
     
       4. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein said pattern forming stream means includes a second stream moving away from said distributor in a direction having a component extending radially outwardly from the fixed axis of said primary stream. 
     
     
       5. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 4 wherein said second stream is generally equal in size in comparison with said one stream and moves away from said distributor in a direction having a component extending radially outwardly from the fixed axis of said primary stream which is equal to and diametrically opposed to the component extending radially outwardly from the axis of the primary stream in the direction said one stream moves away from said distributor. 
     
     
       6. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein said pattern forming stream means is distributed substantially throughout the entire area of said generally circular pattern. 
     
     
       7. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 6 wherein the distribution of the pattern forming stream means substantially throughout the entire area of said generally circular pattern is such that generally more water is distributed within a peripheral area adjacent the outer periphery of the circular pattern than within the inner center area thereof. 
     
     
       8. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 6 wherein the distribution of the pattern forming stream means substantially throughout the entire area of said generally circular pattern is generally uniform throughout. 
     
     
       9. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein said speed reducing means comprises housing means fixed with respect to said sprinkler body having interior surfaces defining a chamber having a body of viscous fluid therein, said rotary distributor being fixedly mounted on a mounting shaft, said housing means carrying a bearing, said mounting shaft extending through said bearing in journaled relation therewith and into said chamber, a viscous fluid engaging member fixed on said shaft within said chamber and so related to the interior surfaces defining said chamber that viscous shearing of the viscous fluid takes place during rotation of said rotary distributor sufficient to effect the desired speed reduction. 
     
     
       10. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 9 wherein said viscous fluid engaging member is of annular disk-like configuration. 
     
     
       11. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 9 wherein said viscous fluid engaging member is of generally cylindrical configuration. 
     
     
       12. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 9 wherein said bearing is a sleeve bearing and has an annular seal on the outwardly extending end thereof engaging the rotary distributor shaft. 
     
     
       13. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 9 wherein said viscous fluid fills said chamber. 
     
     
       14. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 9 wherein said viscous fluid fills only a portion of said chamber within which said viscous fluid engaging member is situated, the portion of said shaft initially communicating with said chamber being spaced from said viscous fluid when said sprinkler head is oriented in an operative position or in any other stored orientation thereof. 
     
     
       15. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 14 wherein said rotary sprinkler head is capable of being operated in the aforesaid operating position and alternatively in a second operating position inverted with respect to said first mentioned operating position, said chamber having a second portion which said viscous fluid fills when said sprinkler head is in said second operating position, said viscous fluid engaging member having a first portion engaging said viscous fluid when the latter fills said first mentioned chamber portion and a spaced second portion which engages said viscous fluid when the latter fills said second chamber portion. 
     
     
       16. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said chamber portions are defined by inner and outer cylindrical wall portions closed at one end by an annular wall which is oriented at the bottom ends of the cylindrical wall portions when the associated chamber portion is filled with viscous fluid. 
     
     
       17. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 16 wherein means is provided for varying the relative positions of the interior surfaces which effect the viscous shearing defining said chamber and the surfaces of said viscous fluid engaging member which effect the viscous shearing so as to vary the amount of viscous shearing of the viscous fluid that takes place during rotation of said rotary distributor so as to vary the extent of speed reduction. 
     
     
       18. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 17 wherein said relative positions varying means includes means for manually effecting the variation. 
     
     
       19. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 17 wherein said housing means includes a movable housing part threadedly engaged on a fixed housing part, said relative position varying means comprising interior viscous fluid shearing surfaces on said movable housing part. 
     
     
       20. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 17 wherein said viscous fluid engaging member is splined to said mounting shaft and said relative position varying means comprises means for moving said viscous fluid engaging member along its splined connection with said shaft. 
     
     
       21. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 20 wherein said interior viscous fluid shearing surfaces are provided on rings made of metal, said viscous fluid engaging member being made of plastic so as to vary the spacing between the cooperative fluid shearing surfaces in accordance with variations in viscosity of the viscous fluid due to temperature variations so as to maintain a substantially constant revolutionary speed of said rotary distributor. 
     
     
       22. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 17 wherein said relative position varying means includes sensing means for sensing a change in condition resulting from a change in the pressure of the water source and means for effecting the variation of said relative position varying means in accordance with the change in condition sensed so as to maintain a generally constant reduced speed of said rotary distributor throughout a range of pressure changes in the water source. 
     
     
       23. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 22 wherein said condition sensed is the axial reactionary force component on said rotary distributor as a result of the engagement of the primary stream with the surface means thereof. 
     
     
       24. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 23 wherein said sensing means comprises a spring connected to said mounting shaft so as to resiliently urge the same toward a limiting position in a direction opposed to the direction of the primary stream while yielding to allow axial movement of the mounting shaft in the opposite direction. 
     
     
       25. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 9 wherein means is provided for varying the relative positions of the interior surfaces which effect the viscous shearing defining said chamber and the surfaces of said viscous fluid engaging member which effect the viscous shearing so as to vary the amount of viscous shearing of the viscous fluid that takes place during rotation of said rotary distributor so as to vary the extent of speed reduction. 
     
     
       26. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 25 wherein said relative positions varying means includes means for manually effecting the variation. 
     
     
       27. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 25 wherein said housing means includes a movable housing part threadedly engaged on a fixed housing part, said relative position varying means comprising interior viscous fluid shearing surfaces on said movable housing part. 
     
     
       28. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 25 wherein said viscous fluid engaging member is splined to said mounting shaft and said relative position varying means comprises means for moving said viscous fluid engaging member along its splined connection with said shaft. 
     
     
       29. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 9 wherein said interior viscous fluid shearing surfaces are provided on rings made of a first material, said viscous fluid engaging member being made of a second material, said first and second materials having differing coefficients of thermal expansion so as to vary the spacing between the cooperative fluid shearing surfaces in accordance with variations in viscosity of the viscous fluid due to temperature variations so as to maintain a substantially constant revolutionary speed of said rotary distributor. 
     
     
       30. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 25 wherein said relative position varying means includes sensing means for sensing a change in condition in the primary stream and means for effecting the variation of said relative position varying means in accordance with the change in condition sensed so as to maintain a generally constant reduced speed of said rotary distributor. 
     
     
       31. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 30 wherein said condition sensed is the axial reactionary force component on said rotary distributor as a result of the engagement of the primary stream with the surface means thereof. 
     
     
       32. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 31 wherein said sensing means comprises a spring connected to said mounting shaft so as to resiliently urge the same toward a limiting position in a direction opposed to the direction of the primary stream while yielding to allow axial movement of the mounting shaft in the opposite direction. 
     
     
       33. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein said sprinkler body is formed with a tubular inlet portion coaxially adjacent said outlet, said outlet being tubular and having arm portions extending outwardly therefrom at diametrically opposed positions, strut portions extending generally vertically from the outer ends of said arm portions, a pair of connecting portions extending inwardly from the ends of said strut portions and a tubular mounting portion fixed to said connecting portions, said speed reducing means including housing means having a sleeve portion fixedly engagable with the tubular mounting portion of said sprinkler body. 
     
     
       34. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 33 wherein said sleeve portion is slit to form an integral resilient locking element having an enlarged head formed with a cam surface for engaging said tubular mounting portion and a locking surface for engaging within a recess in said tubular mounting portion. 
     
     
       35. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein said sprinkler body is formed with a tubular inlet portion coaxially adjacent said outlet, said outlet being tubular, an annular member journaled in surrounding relation with said tubular outlet, and means extending axially outwardly with respect to said annular member for fixedly connecting said rotary distributor thereto. 
     
     
       36. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided for sensing a change in condition resulting from a change in the pressure of the water source, and means for varying the speed reducing means in accordance with the change in condition sensed so as to maintain a generally constant reduced speed throughout a range of pressure changes in the water source. 
     
     
       37. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein said whirling speed is of the order of 1800 r.p.m. and said reduced speed is within the range of from 1/4 r.p.m. to 12 r.p.m. 
     
     
       38. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein said one stream is formed by stepped surfaces establishing portions of said one stream which have different directional components so as to cause said different portions to fall out differently. 
     
     
       39. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided for sensing a change in condition in the primary stream and means for varying the speed reducing means in accordance with the change in condition sensed so as to maintain a generally constant speed of said rotary distributor. .Iadd. 
     
     
       40.  A rotary sprinkler comprising: a body portion having an inlet for receiving water under pressure and an outlet for discharging a stream of water to atmosphere;   a distributor rotatable relative to said body portion and supported at one end of a shaft mounted for rotation within a bearing, said distributor having at least one surface for engaging the stream discharged from said outlet such that upon engagement with said stream, said distributor is caused to rotate; and   a brake assembly for reducing rotational speed of said distributor, said brake assembly including a brake element mounted for rotation on said shaft remote from said one end, such that said bearing is located intermediate said distributor and said brake element. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. A rotary sprinkler according to claim 40 wherein said bearing is mounted in said brake assembly and wherein said brake assembly includes a tubular support carried by said body portion, said brake assembly further including a chamber receiving said brake element for rotation therein.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.42.  A rotary sprinkler according to claim 41 wherein said chamber is substantially filled with a viscous fluid. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. A rotary sprinkler according to claim 42 wherein said chamber is at least partially defined by a peripheral wall, and wherein said brake element includes a fluid engaging member in close proximity to said peripheral wall to effect shearing of said viscous fluid upon rotation of said brake element. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. A rotary sprinkler assembly according to claim 40 wherein said distributor comprises an annular member, and wherein said at least one surface comprises at least one groove having an inlet end substantially coaxially aligned with and vertically spaced from said sprinkler body portion outlet and extending along a vertically and horizontally curved path to an exit end located outwardly of said inlet end, thereby causing said distributor to rotate upon passage of fluid therethrough. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. A rotary sprinkler assembly according to claim 44 wherein said groove has a relatively narrow surface configuration extending along at least a part of the groove, said narrow surface configuration having a curvature different from the curvature of the 
     
     
        groove. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46.  A rotary sprinkler comprising: a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet mounting a removable outlet nozzle;   a distributor supported at one end of a rotatable shaft and axially spaced from said outlet nozzle, said distributor having at least one surface for engaging a liquid stream discharged from said outlet nozzle, and for causing the distributor to rotate, said shaft mounted for rotation in a bearing supported in a brake assembly housing, said housing including a chamber substantially filled with a viscous fluid; and   a brake element secured to the other end of said shaft and located within said chamber to dampen rotation of said shaft and said distributor.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.47.  A rotary sprinkler as defined in claim 46 wherein said brake assembly housing is mounted within a support member carried by said sprinkler body. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48. A rotary sprinkler as defined in claim 47 and further including a dynamic seal associated with said bearing and engaging said shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49. A rotary sprinkler as defined in claim 46 wherein said brake assembly and said brake element are effective to reduce rotational speed of the distributor from an unbraked turning speed of about 1800 r.p.m. to a braked turning speed of about 1/4 to about 12 r.p.m. .Iadd.50. A rotary sprinkler as defined in claim 46 wherein said brake assembly and said brake element are effective to maintain sprinkling pattern area radius at about 89% of sprinkling pattern 
     
     
        area radius of said distributor held stationary. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51.  A rotary sprinkler head comprising: a non-rotational sprinkler body including an inlet and an outlet, said outlet including a nozzle for discharging a fluid stream under pressure to atmosphere;   a rotatable distributor supported by said sprinkler body and axially spaced downstream from said nozzle, said distributor aligned with said outlet and including surface means for receiving and deflecting said stream, said surface means configured to cause rotation of said distributor upon receiving said stream; and   braking means for reducing rotational speed of said distributor by a factor of between about 150 and about 7000, wherein said distributor is mounted on one end of a shaft, the other end of the shaft received within said braking means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.52. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 51 wherein said braking means comprises a brake assembly housing, said shaft being journalled in a bearing located within said brake assembly housing; a brake element mounted on said other end of said shaft and disposed within a chamber provided in said housing, said chamber being   
     
     
        substantially filled with viscous fluid. .Iaddend. .Iadd.53.  A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 52 wherein said chamber is at least partially defined by a peripheral wall, and wherein said brake element includes a fluid engaging member in close proximity to said peripheral wall to effect shearing of said viscous fluid upon rotation of said brake element. .Iaddend. .Iadd.54. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 52 wherein said braking means is operative when said sprinkler head is in either of at least two positions, one of which is inverted with respect to 
     
     
        the other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55.  A rotary sprinkler head comprising: a non-rotational sprinkler body including an inlet and an outlet, said outlet including a nozzle for discharging a stream under pressure to atmosphere;   a rotatable distributor supported by said sprinkler body and axially spaced downstream from said nozzle, said distributor including at least one surface at one end thereof for receiving and deflecting said stream, said surface configured to cause rotation of said distributor upon receiving said stream; and   braking means for reducing rotational speed of said distributor from about 1800 r.p.m. to between about 1/4 and about 12 r.p.m.;   wherein said distributor is mounted on one end of a shaft, the other end of   
     
     
        said shaft received within said braking means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.56.  A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 55 wherein said braking means is operative when said sprinkler head is in either of at least two positions, one of which is inverted with respect to the other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.57. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 55 wherein said other end of said shaft is journalled within a bearing within said braking means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.58. A rotary sprinkler head as defined in claim 57 wherein said braking means includes a housing supported by said sprinkler body such that said distributor, said shaft and said bearing are in axially spaced alignment with said nozzle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.59. A rotary sprinkler comprising: a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet for discharging a stream to atmosphere;   a distributor supported at one end of a rotatable shaft and spaced from said outlet, said shaft mounted for rotation within a bearing, said distributor having at least one surface for engaging a stream discharged from said outlet;   a brake element for reducing rotational speed of said distributor, said brake element mounted for rotation on said shaft remote from said one end, such that said bearing is located intermediate said distributor and said brake element;   said at least one surface and said brake element cooperative to produce a   
     
     
        substantially donut-shaped sprinkling pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.60.  A rotary sprinkler head comprising: a sprinkler body provided with an inlet for receiving a pressurized fluid, and an outlet for discharging said fluid as a primary stream, said sprinkler body having no dynamic seals therein;   a distributor rotatable relative to said body and supported at one end of a shaft mounted for rotation within a bearing, said distributor having at least one surface for engaging said primary stream discharged from said outlet;   a viscous brake assembly including a brake element for reducing rotational speed of said distributor, said brake element mounted for rotation on said shaft remote from said one end, such that said bearing is located intermediate said distributor and said brake element. .Iaddend.