Sprinkler

Abstract

Provided is a rotary sprinkler that includes a housing, a rotatable irrigation head associated with a first magnet assembly, and a second magnet assembly associated with the housing and fitted with a rotary dampening mechanism. The first magnet assembly and the second magnet assembly are arranged with like poles facing each other so as to generate a repulsion force therebetween.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary sprinkler comprising a housing, a rotatable irrigation head fitted with a rotary dampening mechanism and associated with a first magnet assembly, said dampening mechanism being configured for resisting movement of said first magnet assembly rotatable irrigation head; a second magnet assembly associated with the housing; said first magnet assembly and said second magnet assembly are being arranged with like poles facing each other so as to generate a repulsion force therebetween,
 wherein, at least during operation of the sprinkler, said first magnet assembly and said second magnet assembly are in a state of static magnetic equilibrium. 
 
     
     
       2. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , where the housing is formed with a liquid inlet port and a jet forming nozzle extending opposite said rotatable irrigation head, said housing further comprising a bridge with a magnet support fixedly fitted with said second magnet assembly, said bridge rotationally supporting said irrigation head which comprises said first magnet assembly. 
     
     
       3. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein said second magnet assembly comprises at least a pair of magnets axially positioned with respect to one another and the first magnet assembly is in the form of a magnet which extends axially symmetrically between said pair of first magnets, at a magnetic force equilibrium. 
     
     
       4. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein said first magnet assembly comprises at least a first magnet and said second magnet assembly comprises at least a second magnet, said first magnet and said second magnet are being substantially equally radially offset from a rotary axis of the irrigation head. 
     
     
       5. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein the first magnet assembly is displaceable within a sealed chamber filled with a viscous substance, said chamber constituting the dampening mechanism, and comprising a holder being configured for retaining the first magnet assembly at a fixed distance from the an axis of rotation and facilitating only rotary displacement thereof. 
     
     
       6. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein magnets of the second magnet assembly are fixedly articulated to the housing. 
     
     
       7. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein said first magnet assembly comprises at least a first magnet and said second magnet assembly comprises at least a second magnet, said first magnet and said second magnet are axially positioned being axially offset with respect to one another. 
     
     
       8. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler is fitted configured for either heads-up or bottoms-up orientation. 
     
     
       9. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of first magnets of in said first magnet assembly corresponds with the number of second magnets of in the second magnet assembly. 
     
     
       10. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein the a first magnet of the first magnet assembly and the a second magnet of the second magnet assembly have substantially the same magnetic force. 
     
     
       11. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 2 , wherein the irrigation head is fitted with a support boss retained by the bridge and having an axial degree of freedom such that the irrigation head is axially displaceable between a downward, non-operative position and an upper, operative position. 
     
     
       12. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 11 , wherein when the irrigation head is at its in said downward, non-operative position it conceals the jet forming nozzle. 
     
     
       13. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the irrigation head and the jet forming nozzle is fitted with a peripheral skirt portion for concealing an outlet of the jet forming nozzle and an outlet of a jet emitting portion of the irrigation head, when the irrigation head is at in the downward, non-operative position. 
     
     
       14. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 13 , wherein the irrigation head is fitted with a skirt portion and the jet forming nozzle is fitted with a fixed skirt portion, said skirt portions being coaxial and having different dimensions, whereby at in the non-operative position said skirt portions at least partially overlap. 
     
     
       15. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first magnet assembly is fixed on a magnet support member which is secured to the bridge in a rotatable fashion and is in turn engageable for rotation with the irrigation head. 
     
     
       16. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 15 , wherein the magnet support member engages with the irrigation head upon axial displacement of the irrigation head from a downward, non-operative position to an upper, operative position. 
     
     
       17. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 15 , wherein rotary engagement between the magnet support member and the irrigation head is facilitated by a helical path formed in one of the magnet support member and the irrigation head and a corresponding helical coupler formed in another of the magnet support member and the irrigation head, whereby axial ascending of the irrigation head entails postponed rotary rotation of the magnet support member. 
     
     
       18. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first magnet assembly and the at least one second magnet assembly are received in respective magnet holders which are detachably attachable to the irrigation head and said bridge, respectively. 
     
     
       19. The rotary sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein the repulsion force is coaxial with a rotary axis of the sprinkler and acts to bias the irrigation head in a direction opposite an axial force applied on the irrigation head by a liquid jet.