NZ203503A - Pop-up butterfly sprinkler - Google Patents

Description

2 035 03 Priority Date(s): Complete Specification Filed: Class: BoSg?jf/C...

Publication Date: P.O. Journal, No: Patents Form No. 5 Number PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION POP-UP BUTTERFLY SPRINKLER ^We RIS IRRIGATION SYSTEMS PTY. LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of the State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia of Cnr Philip Highway & Hogarth Road, Elizabeth, State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia do herebylteclare the invention for which y}wt pray that a Patent may be granted to ibb^us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 203503 2.

This invention relates generally to pop-up sprinklers, more particularly to pop-up sprinklers having a butterfly sprinkler therein.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Pop-up sprinklers are well known, these generally having a fixed head or spray jet whereby the water impinges against a fixed member to spray the water in the desired area.

However to the applicants knowledge there is not available a pop-up butterfly sprinkler and it is an object of this invention to provide such a sprinkler.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Thus there is provided according to the invention a pop-up butterfly sprinkler comprising a barrel adapted to be attached to a water supply, a hollow plunger operating in said barrel, said plunger being biased downwardly by a spring acting against the bottom end of a cup, said barrel being releasably attached to said cup, a butterfly sprinkler situated within said cup and attached to said hollow plunger, said butterfly sprinkler having a rotational head and including a body having means to fix it to a support and having upstanding arm means thereon to support a bearing in axial alignment with an orifice in said body and shaped to define a space to accommodate said head, a shaft upwardly projecting from said head arranged to engage said bearing, said shaft having a larger diameter portion at the said rotational head, said bearing having a depending skirt arranged to encircle said larger diameter portion of said shaft to form a protective shroud against ingress of foreign 203503 3. matter to said bearing, said bearing being positionable on said arm means to allow the rotating head to be positioned over said orifice and then held confined with some axial movement between said bearing and said body when said bearing is so positioned, said body being hollow; a cylindrical sleeve lining said hollow body, said sleeve being arranged co-axially with said bearing and having a membrane extending across it near one end with said orifice therethrough co-axial with said sleeve; said membrane with said sleeve forming a recess in which that end of said head remote from the said bearing is freely accommodated to prevent significant lateral displacement of that end of said head; said sprinkler carrying at its top a cap adapted to seat on the top of the cup when the sprinkler is in its lowered position, the arrangement being such that water pressure will raise the plunger and sprinkler, thus compressing the spring which returns the sprinkler to its lowered position upon release of water pressure. 203503 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodiment will now be described 5. with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-* FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the sprinkler in the lowered position, and . FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sprinkler in the raised position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT . The sprinkler illustrated in the figures comprises a body 1 having a screw thread 2 whereby it can be secured to the hollow plunger 3 and has two arms 4-4 projecting upwardly to a bearing 5 which is located in a bore 6 at the junction of the arms, 20. which arms, define a space in which the rotating head operates.

A rotating head 7 has an upwardly projecting shaft 8 which engages in.the bearing 5, the shaft 25. 8 and bore 6 of the bearing 5 being dimensioned so that when water pressure is exerted on the rotating head 7, the head is lifted into the upper operating position with the end of the shaft 8 bearing against the inner end of the bore 5.

. The shaft 8 has a tapered configuration having a lower part 9 fitting into a dust skirt 10 extending down from the bottom of the bearing so that when in its lowered position the skirt 10 shrouds the larger part 9 of the shaft 8 to prevent dust or 35_ grit getting into the bearing itself which commences at the upper end of the skirt 10. 203503 The rotating head 7 is generally similar to the heads used heretofore in that it comprises a moulding with a curved shaped director 11 in which is formed a channel 12 which terminates at the lower 5. end to surround the axis of the shaft 8 of the rotating head and curves upwardly and outwardly to direct water laterally and is caused to rotate by the reaction due to the curve of the channel. The rotating head 7 extends downwardly sufficiently far to fit into 10. a recess 13 which is axially arranged with the shaft 8 of the rotating head 7 so that limited lateral displacement only is possible of the lower part of the rotating head 7 to ensure that the head 7 or shaft 8 cannot be damaged or removed.

. The lower part 14 of the rotating head 7 which extends into the recess 13 terminates above a jet orifice 15 formed in the end of an insert sleeve 16 which is an interference fit in the body to hold it in position allowing it to be pushed or driven . into the bore in the body. The recess freely accommodates that end of the head 7 remote from the bearing 5 to prevent significant lateral displacement of that end of the head.

. The hollow plunger 3 passes through an aperture 17 in the bottom of a cup 18, the cup 18 having a bayonet fitting 19 to the upper end of a barrel 20. The bottom of the barrel 20 is formed with a screw thread or other connection 21 whereby connection 30. may be made to a source of water.

The bottom of the hollow plunger 3 is provided with grooves 22 to engage over ribs 23 in the barrel wall. 2G35'03 6.

A gasket 2 4 in the form of a membrane of rubber or other like material is provided between the bottom of a cup 18 and the upper end of the barrel 20, the plunger 3 being biased downwardly by a spring 25, which spring rests in 5. a channel shaped ring 26 against the gasket 24.

The upper ends of the arms 4 are provided with a snap-on cap 27 which in the lowered position of the sprinkler rests in a recess 28 in the upper 10. end of the cup to thereby close the end of the cup and prevent the ingress of dirt and the like into the cup in the lowered position of the sprinkler.

The cap 27 is attached centrally of the arms by a snap connection 29 which allows slight movement 15. to provide alignment and sealing in the recess in the lowered position.

By means of the constructions described the rotating head 7 is confined in an upward direction 20. by the end of the shaft 8 contacting the end of the bore in the bearing 5, and at that stage the enlarged part 9 of the shaft is disposed within the dust seal skirt 10 at the bottom of the bearing, but when supply of water is terminated the rotating head 7 drops but not 25. sufficiently to bring the enlarged part of the shaft 8 out of the skirt 10. This ensures that the shaft itself is protected against dirt, the downward movement being limited by the lower part of the rotating head 7 contacting the upper end of the sleeve 16.

. The rotating head 7 thus has limited up and down movement, and it will be appreciated that firstly the head has the upwardly protecting shaft 8 protected . . . . . . 2G3503 7. against contamination because it is housed in the bearing and is protected by the dust seal skirt 10 which accommodates a larger portion 9 of the shaft 8, while the lower end of the head 7 is located loosely in the recess 13 which is formed in the sleeve 16. This then ensures that the rotating head is protected against removal, not only as it is supported against sideways displacement by the shaft 8 engaging in the bearing 5, but by its lower end fitting in the recess 13, limits sideways movement when relatively heavy forces are applied which could otherwise distort the spindle sufficiently to damage the rotating head. The arrangement is such that the lower end of the rotating head is a loose fit in the recess 13 so that it is not guided by the wall of the recess but the wall merely limits excessive displacement of the lower part of the rotating head which as said could cause damage to the spindle or removal of the head. The recess 13 has slots or cut-outs 29 which are provided to allow any dirt or debris or the like which may tend to collect in the recess to be readily thrown out by the rotating head and any water which may tend to collect in the recess, particularly on termination of flow of the water.

As noted above the hollow plunger 3 has grooves 22 to engage over ribs 23 on the barrel, this then limiting the plunger to a vertical movement and preventing rotational movement of the hollow plunger.

The plunger is not a sealing fit within the barrel, but the water pressure is such that the water acting on the end of the hollow plunger, and 203503 8. also on the steps 30 and 31 forming the enlarged lower portion of the plunger ensures that the plunger raises to expose the rotating head above the cup 18. On termination of flow any water which is in 5. the space between the plunger and the barrel can then drain pass the lower end of the plunger, and if that space has water in it as the plunger tends to rise, the water can then flow backwardly past the lower end of the plunger without impeding its 10. upward movement.

This sprinkler as described would be mounted in the garden or lawn or other area with the cap at or just below ground level, the upward movement 15. being sufficient to bring the rotating head above ground level and above any lawn or grass which may be growing around the sprinkler so that the water is directed above this lawn or grass. The cap seals to prevent any entry of dirt or foreign matter into 20. the cup when in the lowered position.

Although one form of the invention has been described in some detail it is to be realised that the invention is not to be limited thereto but can 25. include various modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

NEW ZEALAND 13N0V»» PAT-'T 9 203503

Claims (6)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler assembly comprising: a housing; a butterfly sprinkler having a freely rotatable head, said sprinkler being mounted in said housing for movement between an extended position in the presence of water pressure, and a retracted position in the absence thereof; a cap mounted on said sprinkler for closing said housing when said sprinkler is retracted; a pair of non-rotating arms mounted in said housing for movement with said sprinkler between said extended and retracted positions, said arms having side portions sufficiently spaced from each other to allow said head to freely rotate therebetween, and converging portions joined at a juncture above said head, said juncture carrying a bearing in which said head is rotatably supported; and said juncture also supporting said cap.

2. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a barrel adapted to be attached to the water supply, a hollow plunger operating is said barrel, said plunger being biased downwardly by a spring acting against the bottom end of a cup, said barrel being releasably attached to said cup, said butterfly sprinkler situated within said cup and attached to said hollow plunger, said butterfly sprinkler having a rotational head and including a body having means to fix it to a support and having upstanding arm means thereon to support a bearing in axial alignment wi :h an orifice in said body and shaped to define a space to accommodate said head, a shaft upwardly projecting from said head arranged to engage said bearing, saia shaft having a larger diameter por cion at the said rotational head, said uearing having a depending skirt arranged to encircle said larger diameter portion of said shaft to form a protective shroud against ingress of foreign matter to said bearing, said bearing being positionable on said arm means to allow the rotating head to be positioned over said orifice and then held confined with some axial movement between said bearing and said body when said bearing is so positioned, said body being hollow; a cylindrical sleeve lining said hollow body, said sleeve being arranged coaxially with said bearing and having a membrane extending across it near one end with said orifice therethrough coaxial with .said sleeve; said membrane with said sleeve forming a recess in which that end NEW ZEALAND 13 NOV 1986 | patent*?^ 10 203503 of said head remote from the said bearing is freely accommodated to prevent significant lateral displacement of that end of said head; the arrangement being such that water pressure will raise the plunger and sprinkler, thus compressing the spring which returns the sprinkler;to its lowered position upon release of water pressure.

3. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a barrel adapted to be attached to said water supply, a hollow plunger operating In said barrel, said plunger being biased downwardly by a spring acting against the bottom end of a cup, said barrel being releasably attached to said cup; said butterfly sprinkler situated within said cup and attached to said hollow plunger; said butterfly sprinkler having a rotational head and including a body having means to fix it to a support and having upstanding" arm means thereon to support a bearing in axial alignment with an orifice in said body and shaped to define a space to accommodate said head; a shaft upwardly projecting from the said head arranged to engage said bearing; said arm means having generally horizontal converging portions above said head, said bearing being located generally at the convergence of said portions, and said arm means being so positioned as to allow said head to rotate inwardly thereof; said bearing being positionable on said arm means to allow the rotating head to be positioned over said orifice and then held confined with some axial movement between said bearing and the said body when said bearing is so positioned; said sprinkler carrying at its top said cap adapted to seat on the top of the cup when the sprinkler is in its lowered position; the arrangement being such that water pressure will rais^ tt.: plunger and sprinkler; thus impressing the sprinc, which returns the sprinkler to its lowered position upon releaje of water pressure; said cap being attached to said convergence of said arms by a central snap-on connection allowing movement limited by said converging arm portions for sealing alignment of said cap in a circumferential recess in the top of the cup with the sprinkler in the lowered position.

4. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler as defined in claim 3 characterized in that the lower end of said plunger and the internal surface of the barrel have co-operating means to prevent relative rotation therebetween while NEW ZEALAND 13 NOV 1986 2M503 li allowing axial movement therebetween, the clearance therebetween allowing leakage of water when the water pressure is terminated to allow retraction of said plunger. -- i

5. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said cap is attached to the top of the sprinkler by a central snap-on connection allowing slight movement for sealing alignment in a circumferential recess In the top of the cup with the sprinkler in the

6. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 5. lowered position. # WEST-WALKER, McCABE per: ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT NEW ZEALAND 13 NOV 1986