Micro-stream rotator with adjustment of throw radius and flow rate

Abstract

A rotating stream sprinkler including a rotor plate supported on one end of a shaft for rotation, in an operative mode, relative to the shaft; a nozzle located along the shaft upstream of the rotor plate; the rotor plate formed with a chamber and one end of the shaft has a stator fixed thereto within the chamber, the fluid chamber at partially filled with a viscous fluid; and wherein the chamber is at least partially closed at an upper end thereof by a rotor cap plate; and further wherein an underside of the rotor cap plate is provided with a first plurality of teeth and an upper surface of the stator is provided with a second plurality of mating teeth adapted to engage the first plurality of teeth to enable rotation of the rotor plate with the shaft in the adjustment mode. A flow rate adjustment mechanism includes a throttle member threadably mounted on the shaft for movement relative to the shaft, toward or away from an annular seat having a discontinuous edge such that the flow rate cannot be shut off by having the throttle member engage the seat.

1. A rotating stream sprinkler comprising:
 a rotor plate supported on one end of a shaft for rotation, in an operative mode, relative to the shaft; a nozzle located along said shaft upstream of said rotor plate, said shaft and said nozzle supported within a base component of the sprinkler; said rotor plate formed with a chamber, with one end of said shaft having a stator fixed thereto within said chamber, said chamber at least partially filled with a viscous fluid; and wherein said chamber is at least partially closed at an upper end thereof by a rotor plate cap; and further wherein an underside of said rotor plate cap is provided with a first plurality of teeth and an upper surface of said stator is provided with a second plurality of teeth adapted to engage said first plurality of teeth to enable rotation of said rotor plate with said shaft in an adjustment mode.  
 
     
     
       2. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 1  wherein said rotor plate is movable axially on said shaft to enable engagement of said first and second plurality of teeth. 
     
     
       3. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 1  wherein said rotor plate is formed with a plurality of grooves in an exterior surface thereof adapted to receive a stream from said nozzle, said grooves configured to cause said rotor plate to rotate when said stream impinges on said grooves. 
     
     
       4. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 1  wherein said shaft has an opposite threaded end and a throttle member threadably mounted on said opposite end, such that when said shaft is rotated with said first and second plurality of teeth engaged in said adjustment mode, said throttle member moves axially on said shaft. 
     
     
       5. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 4  and further comprising a plurality of vertically arranged, circumferentially spaced ribs axially adjacent said throttle member and serving as a seat for said throttle member when said throttle member is moved to a most restrictive flow position. 
     
     
       6. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 5  wherein said throttle has a plurality of axial ribs on an exterior surface thereof and adapted to intermesh with a plurality of axially extending ribs on a spider member fixed within said sprinkler body, thereby preventing said throttle member from rotating. 
     
     
       7. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 6  wherein said spider member is mounted on said shaft axially between said nozzle and said throttle member. 
     
     
       8. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 7  wherein a threaded collar is press fit on said shaft and said throttle member is threadably mounted on said collar. 
     
     
       9. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 1  wherein said nozzle comprises radially inner and outer components, configured to emit a stream at an angle to a central axis of said sprinkler. 
     
     
       10. The sprinkler of  claim 1  wherein said distributor plate includes a chamber at least partially filled with a viscous fluid and wherein a stator is fixed to said shaft within said chamber. 
     
     
       11. A rotating stream sprinkler assembly comprising a sprinkler having an inlet, an outlet including a stationary nozzle; a rotatable stream distributor plate mounted on a shaft downstream of said nozzle and having stream distribution grooves adapted to receive a stream from said nozzle and to distribute said stream, said shaft and said nozzle supported within a base component of the sprinkler; and means for adjusting the flow rate of water flowing to said nozzle. 
     
     
       12. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 11  wherein said nozzle is interchangeable with similar nozzles, each having a different sprinkling pattern. 
     
     
       13. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 12  wherein said means is accessible exteriorly of said sprinkler body. 
     
     
       14. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 11  wherein said distributor plate includes a chamber at least partially filled with a viscous fluid and wherein a stator is fixed to said shaft within said chamber. 
     
     
       15. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 11  wherein said nozzle is configured to emit the stream to atmosphere at an angle relative to a center axis of said sprinkler body. 
     
     
       16. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 15  wherein said shaft lies in said center axis, and wherein said nozzle includes a substantially conical deflector fixed on said shaft. 
     
     
       17. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 16  wherein said deflector mounts an annular shield extending toward said stream distribution plate. 
     
     
       18. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 16  wherein said nozzle and said conical deflector cooperate to emit the stream at an angle of about 20° relative to said center axis. 
     
     
       19. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 11  wherein said stream distributor plate is in the shape of a truncated and inverted cone with grooves formed therein, a radially inner edge thereof forming an apex, said apex lying radially outwardly of an orifice of said nozzle. 
     
     
       20. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 11  wherein said stream distribution plate has a plurality of circumferentially offset grooves so as to cause said plate to rotate when a stream from said nozzle impinges on said grooves. 
     
     
       21. A rotating stream sprinkler assembly comprising a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet including a stationary nozzle; a rotatable stream distributor plate mounted on a shaft for rotation relative to the shaft, the distributor plate located downstream of said nozzle and having stream distribution grooves adapted to receive a stream from said nozzle and to distribute said stream; a flow rate adjustment mechanism comprising a throttle member threadably mounted on said shaft for movement relative to said shaft, toward or away from an annular seat having a discontinuous edge such that the flow rate cannot be shut off by having said throttle member engage said seat. 
     
     
       22. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 21  wherein said distributor plate rotates relative to said shaft during normal operation but rotates with said shaft during flow rate adjustment. 
     
     
       23. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 22  including means for preventing said throttle member from rotating with said shaft during said flow rate adjustment. 
     
     
       24. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 21  wherein said distributor plate includes a chamber at least partially filled with a viscous fluid and wherein a stator is fixed to said shaft within said chamber. 
     
     
       25. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 21  wherein said discontinuous edge is defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending ribs. 
     
     
       26. A rotating stream sprinkler comprising means for delivering liquid to a nozzle; means downstream of said nozzle for distributing liquid emitted from said nozzle in a desired sprinkling pattern; means for adjusting flow rate of water to said nozzle; and means for controlling a speed of rotation of said means for distributing said liquid. 
     
     
       27. A rotating stream sprinkler comprising a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet including a stationary nozzle; a rotatable stream distributor plate mounted on a shaft for rotation relative to the shaft, the distributor plate located downstream of said nozzle and having stream distribution grooves adapted to receive a stream from said nozzle and to distribute said stream; said distributor plate having a chamber formed therein at least partially filled with a viscous fluid, and a stator fixed to said shaft within said chamber, wherein rotational speed of said rotatable stream distributor plate is viscously dampened; and a flow rate adjustment mechanism comprising a throttle member threadably mounted for movement relative to said shaft, toward or away from an annular seat upstream of said throttle member. 
     
     
       28. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 27  wherein said annular seat has a discontinuous edge such that the flow rate cannot be shut off by having said throttle member engage said seat. 
     
     
       29. A rotating stream sprinkler assembly including a sleeve having an inlet and an outlet including a stationary nozzle; a rotatable stream distributor plate mounted on one end of a shaft for rotation relative to the shaft, said shaft supported in said sleeve, the distributor plate located downstream of said nozzle and having stream distribution grooves adapted to receive a stream from said nozzle and to distribute said stream; a flow rate adjustment mechanism comprising a throttle member threadably mounted on said shaft for movement within said sleeve, relative to said shaft, toward or away from an annular seat having a discontinuous edge such that the flow rate cannot be shut off by having said throttle member engage said seat. 
     
     
       30. A rotating stream sprinkler assembly comprising a sprinkler having an inlet, an outlet including a nozzle; a rotatable stream distributor plate mounted on a normally non- rotatable shaft downstream of said nozzle and having stream distribution grooves adapted to receive a stream from said nozzle and to cause said distributor plate to rotate relative to said shaft in an operational mode to thereby distribute said stream, and a pair of throttle components including a first throttle component fixed to said shaft and having flow restriction surfaces thereon, and a second stationary throttle component located axially between said nozzle and said first throttle component and having flow ports therein, wherein said shaft and said first throttle component are rotatable in an adjustment mode to rotate said first throttle component relative to said second throttle component such that said flow restriction surfaces rotate relative to said flow ports to increase or decrease flow through said flow component and said nozzle.   
     
     
       31. The rotating stream sprinkler assembly of  claim 30  wherein said nozzle is stationary. 
     
     
       32. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 30  wherein said nozzle is interchangeable with similar nozzles, each adapted to produce a different sprinkling pattern. 
     
     
       33. A method of adjusting flow rate to a stationary nozzle in a rotating stream sprinkler where the nozzle is supported in an operative mode on one end of a shaft that is non- rotatable in said operative mode, and where a stream distributor plate is supported on the shaft for rotation relative to the shaft, axially downstream of the nozzle, the method comprising:    ( a )  providing a pair of throttle components on the shaft upstream of the nozzle, one of said pair of throttle components fixed to an opposite end of the shaft and the other of said throttle components located axially between the first throttle component and the nozzle and keyed to the nozzle to prevent rotation thereof; and      ( b )  in an adjustment mode, rotating said shaft and said first throttle component relative to said second throttle component to thereby adjust flow to the nozzle.     
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33  wherein step ( b )  is accomplished by engaging cooperating drive elements in said distributor plate and manually rotating said distributor plate.   
     
     
       35. A rotating stream sprinkler assembly comprising:
   a sprinkler having an inlet;        an outlet including a nozzle;        a rotatable stream distributor plate mounted on a normally non - rotatable shaft downstream of said nozzle and having stream distribution grooves adapted to receive a stream from said nozzle and to cause said distributor plate to rotate relative to said shaft in an operational mode to thereby distribute said stream, and        a pair of throttle components including a first throttle component fixed to said shaft and having flow restriction surfaces thereon, and a second throttle component having flow ports therein, wherein said shaft and said first throttle component are rotatable in an adjustment mode to rotate said first throttle component relative to said second throttle component such that said flow restriction surfaces rotate relative to said flow ports to increase or decrease flow through said flow component and said nozzle.     
     
     
       36. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 35  wherein said nozzle is stationary. 
     
     
       37. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 35  wherein said nozzle is interchangeable with similar nozzles, each adapted to produce a different sprinkling pattern. 
     
     
       38. The rotating stream sprinkler of  claim 35  wherein said second throttle component is located axially between said nozzle and said first throttle component. 
     
     
       39. A method of adjusting flow rate to a stationary nozzle in a rotating stream sprinkler where the nozzle is supported in an operative mode on one end of a shaft that is non- rotatable in said operative mode, and where a stream distributor plate is supported on the shaft for rotation relative to the shaft, axially downstream of the nozzle, the method comprising:    ( a )  providing a pair of throttle components on the shaft upstream of the nozzle, said pair of throttle components including a first throttle component fixed to the shaft and a second throttle component keyed to the nozzle to prevent rotation thereof; and      ( b )  in an adjustment mode, rotating said shaft and said first throttle component relative to said second throttle component to thereby adjust flow to the nozzle.     
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 39  wherein step ( b )  is accomplished by engaging cooperating drive elements in said distributor plate and manually rotating said distributor plate.   
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 39  wherein said first throttle component is fixed to an opposite end of the shaft. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 39  wherein said second throttle component is located axially between said nozzle and said first throttle component. 
     
     
       43. A rotating stream sprinkler assembly comprising:
   a sprinkler having an inlet;        a nozzle;        a rotatable stream distributor plate mounted on a normally non - rotatable shaft downstream of said nozzle and having stream distribution grooves adapted to receive a stream from said nozzle and to cause said distributor plate to rotate relative to said shaft in an operational mode to thereby distribute said stream, and        a pair of throttle components including a first throttle component fixed to said shaft and having one or more flow restriction surfaces thereon, and a second throttle component having at least one flow port therein, wherein said shaft and said first throttle component are rotatable in an adjustment mode to rotate said first throttle component relative to said second throttle component such that said one or more flow restriction surfaces rotate relative to said at least one flow port to increase or decrease flow through said flow component and said nozzle.