US2345030A - Sprinkler - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1944.

Filed Dec. 29, 1941' W. A. BUCKNER SPRINKLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR wm.H.Buc1-.n er- HTTYS March 28, 1944. w ABUCKNER 2,345,030

SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 29; 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOFL ATTKS wm.H..Bzzckner Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Buckner Manufacturing Company,

Fresno,

Calif., a copartnership consisting of William A. Buckner and Harry Gleason Application December 29, 1941, Serial No. 424,691

Claims.

This invention relates to water distributin or sprinkling devices, and is more particularly related to that type of sprinkler known as th partcircle sprinkler, wherein there is provided a sprinkling device in which the sprinkling head or member is adapted to be rotated step by step for a portion of a circle in one direction, the direction of rotation being then automatically reversed and the sprinkler head rotates step by step the same distance in the opposite direction.

Such a sprinkler is particularly adapted to the watering along edges of the areas to be sprinkled, and in corners, where a throw of the water in a complete circle is not desired. This present application is a continuation in part Of application Ser. No. 261,485, filed Marchl3, 1939.

Ther have been a number of prior devices developed in which the part circle principle and the step by step movement of the sprinkler head have been provided. However, in most of these there have been certain definite objections in that but a single control member has been provided to control the movement of the impulse arm in both directions. This has resulted in the movement of the sprinkler head bein impositive and direction, and which control means is positively set so that the impulse arm and the impulse vane carried thereby will be positively and independently centered in neutral position after each swing of the arm in either direction from such neutral position.

A further object of the invention is to provide positive stop means for the impulse arm control means so that normally there is no possibility of the impulse arm being swung and held to one side of the neutral position, which would prevent the normal operation of the sprinkler.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved and simplified trip means for the sprinkler head rotating arm.

A further object of the invention is to so ar-' Another important object is to produce a sprinkler which may have a full circle movement in one direction and which may be instantly changed to have a full circle movement in the opposite direction, either movement to be step by step and either movement to be fast or slow at the will of the operator.

I also aim to provide a sprinkler having dual nozzles pointing in the same direction, one for operating the sprinkler and the other for long distance coverage; the two of them providing better coverage than can be had from a one nozzle sprinkler.

A further object of the invention is .to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure l is a side elevation of the sprinkler, showing the parts in the proper position to enable the sprinkler head to be driven step by step in a counter-clockwise direction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the head or body, showing the water discharging jets.

Figure 3 is a top plan of the sprinkler with the swingin impulse arm removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-section on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figures 5 to 8 are diagrammatic plans illustrating the difierentpositions assumed by'the impulse arm and associated parts as the arm travels out from its neutral position in the path of travel of the driving stream of water, and then back through. the stream to the opposite side thereof to impart a rotative step thereto in the manner to be described.

Description Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the sprinkler comprises a hollow body or head I, having a depending passage spindle 2 turnably mounted in a rigid base 3 adapted for connection; to a water supply stand pipe P.

The main nozzle 4 projects radially from the body at an upward angle, and has a water jet 5 at its outer end. An auxiliary nozzle 6, also provided with a water jet 1, projectsradially from the body above and in parallel and overhanging relation to the nozzle 4. This nozzle 6 is preferably shorter than the nozzle 4. Both nozzles are freely open to the interior of the body I as shown in Fig. 2.

Above the nozzle 6 is an impulse arm 8, pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 9 secured in and upstanding from the body approximately at right angles to the axis of nozzle 6. At one end the arm extends beyond the jet 1 and is formed at said end with a fork H] disposed with its sides laterally spaced. At its opposite end, the arm 8 is formed with a weight l l, A pin 12, disposed at right angles to the axis of the jet 1, is mounted in and depends from the arm 8 just back of the fork l and is disposed at right angles tothe longitudinal axis of the jet 1. Freely turnable on said pin for limited oscillating movement is a water deflecting vane 13. This vane I3 is normally disposed on a level with and in the path of any stream of 'wat'er issuing fromthe jet 1.

The vane is shaped in plan so that its sides are symmetrical to its longitudinal axis. "Back of the pin [2 these'sides are convexly curved,and convergeto a sharp edge E just in front of the jet 1, While on the opposite side of the pin said sides are concavely curved and flare out to form water engaging shoulders I i.

A stop lug l5fprojects upwardly'friom the vane and rides betweenthe sides of the fork ID to limit the oscillating movement of the vane 13. The extent of mo'vement'thus permitted is such that when the arm 8 is longitudinally alined with the axis of thejet and'the lug I5 is engaged with one side or the 'othr of the f ork thesharp edge E of the vane is then disposed to'one side or the other of the axis of the jet, depending on which side of the fork is then'engaged by the lug l5. Watercan thus impinge directly against one side or the "other of the vane between the pin I2. and the jet, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

IEixed in and 'projecting from the body i on opposite sides thr'eofare alined horizontal pins IS, on which discs llfare turnably mounted. The pins 16 arepelow' the pin Sand their axis substantially intersects that of'pin '9, beingalso1at right angles to the axis of the auxiliary nozzle 6.7 A helical spring lfl is connected at one end to each disc, and at the other end to a collarl'9 adjustably mounted on the correspondingjfixe'd pin l6, so that thetension of the spring may be altered byadjustrnent of the collar. Each spring is enclosed in a housing Ila preferably 'sc'rew mounted on its disc. Each spring tendsto rota i sre pecti e 9 9 ha it upper edge turns toward, the nozzle. ,1 This movement is limited by the engagement of a radial stop lug 23 on each disc with a corresponding fixed stop it on the body I. Each stop lug also projects into the path of one. of two, cam fingers 22 fixed on the arm 8 radially of pivot pin 9. These fingers 22 are disposed so that when the lugs 20 are both engaged with their'corresponding stops 2!, the arm 8 is held against appreciable swinging movement, and is disposed in substantial alinement with jet 1, as shown in Fig. 5. I

In order to'prevent one or the other of the discs fromrotating in a direction to wind up its spring, but to utilize pressure exerted againstthe disc tending to'thus rotate the same, to rotate the sprinkler as'a whole, I providethe following structure:

A horizontal bracket 23 projects from the body opposed to the nozzles. This bracket supports b e e 'l ne o t flis li r 'parts c'ould remainfin"thesefpositions and water an upstanding pin 24 on which the sprinkler r0- tating arm 25 is turnably mounted. This arm projects toward the nozzles to a termination above the body between the discs ll, being formed adjacent said termination with opposed lateral shoulders 26. These shoulders are disposed just back of the lugs 20 when the latter are in their held neutral position and are adapted to be alternately projected into the path of rotation of one or the other of the lugs when the arm 25 is swung to one side or the other, as shown in Fig.3, where it is interposed in the path of the lower lug 20 shownfin that figure.

Tu'rnable on the pin 24 below and independent of thefarnif25 isfanother relatively short arm 21,

projecting toward the body I and carrying a depending reverse-control stem 28 on its outer end. I This stem projects through a movement limiting slot 29 in the bracket 23 and between a 'pair'of circumferentially and independently adjustable movement limiting stop iineers 30 mounted on and projecting from the basej substantially radial thereof. A snap action spring unit 3| connects the arms2l and '25,.a ndjacts to cause'the arm25to suddenly reverse its position when the stem 28, with the rotation jof the tion about the a'xis'offthe b'ase3. However, in

the present instanc'e, the sprinklerhead is not designed to make such complete revolution. "It is constructed and arranged to fir stmake a step by tep mo eme ti a p rt lb a i b revolution. and to then reverse angli r nake ai ste p by step movement in the,reversedir ctionLforlthe same distance as the.firstn1ovement. This step by step movement first in one direction and then the other is continued until the desiredperi'od of' irrigation has elapsed.

As will be noted fromthe foregoing description of the parts when thes'pririRIer is i'nfneutrali'or non-operatingposition the impulse arm "8 is held by "the springs lfl so that it'extends substantially parallel to and a'bove jthen'o'zzle jets 5 and I, and if the stop lug I 5 is centered between thej'sides of the fork I O, the innensliarp'e'dge E of the vane l 3 is positioned immediately "across jet 1. f r the was dischargedf rom the jet lipr o'tiabi y no movement of thejsprinmer' head would take place.

Assuming, then, 'that itis sired ito 'operate the sprinkler 'and'to' start it'sfstep by step move- .ment a counter-clockwise directiomfthe" deflecting vane l 3 is moved on *its v'ot l2 until the curved side A thereof 'is opposed to any stream of water to be projected: frorn't'he jet Lassho'wn in Fig. 5. The reverse cbhtrol'stem '28" is then moved to a point which woul'd'ause the snap action spring Z'Lto throw the left handstop shoulder 2.26 into thepath of'movement'ofthe s iflmsshqwe in,f e-..'3.-- Th w e the water is turn d ete th s inkl h adfe i the stream or jet is discharged from" the nozzle 1, it strikes against the surface A and swings the arm 8 clockwise.

Immediately after the initiation of this clockwise movement, such movement brings the-shoulder [4 which extends from the side A into the path ofthe water'jet issuing from the nozzle 1 as shown in Fig. 6, and the impulse imparted thereto by such water jet turns the vane I3 on itspivot 12 so that it assumes a position reverse to that which it had when the movement of the impulse arm was initiated. -This reverse position of this vane 13 can be seen in Fig. 7. v

The initial impact of the water jet against the side A throws the arm 8- in the outward clockwise movement with considerable force, and this swingcontinues'until the right-hand cam finger 22 engages the right hand stop lug 20 on the right hand disc H, and causes that disc to rotate against the tension of its correspondin spring i8. When this resistance of the spring l8 has been built up to a sufficient degree to overcome the force .of the swing of the arm 8, the spring then reacts to cause the stop lug 20 to act against the cam finger 22 and return the arm 8 to a positive neutral position. Since the .bottom part of the lug 20 comes to rest against the stop lug IS on the body I, the action of the spring can do no more than to return such arm 8 to its neutral position,

As the arm 8 returns to neutral position, it is of course carrying with it the vane, I3, which has been turned to the position shown in Fig. '7, in the manner described. Thus, as the arm 8 reaches neutral position, the face C of the vane l3 ispresented to the impact of the water discharging from the jet 1. This impact then immediately imparts to the arm 8 a reverse or counter-clockwise swing, and as this swing is initiated, the force of the water strikes the right hand shoulder IA of the vane 13, and again reverses the position of that vane so that it returns to that position shown in Fig. 5, where it is in positionto permit the arm 8 to be again thrown with a clockwise movement when the vaneagain-enters the stream as the arm 8 is returned to neutral position after its counter-clockwise swing.

As the arm 8 is given this counter-clockwise movement, the left-hand cam finger 22 strikes the left-hand stop member 20, which in turn strikes the shoulder 26, which at this time [blocks the path of the movement of the stop member 20.

Since the shoulder 26 is on the head rotating arm 25, which is in turn associated with the head I, this impact imparts partial rotative movement to the head itself carrying the nozzles 4. and 6 in a counter-clockwise movement fora short distance. The left-hand spring I8 then reacts to move the left-handstop member 20 against the left-hand cam finger 22 and. again return the impulse arm 8 to neutral position, at which time the surface A is again presented to the Water jet and the above described cycle of movement commences over again. 7

Under the cycle of movement described above, the sprinkler headis moved step by step in a counter-clockwise direction for such arc of move ment as is desired. This are of movement is predetermined -by the setting of the stop fingers 39. If a 90 arc of movementis desired, they are set 90 apart. If a 180? are of movement is desired, they are set 180 apart.

When the sprinkler has moved counter-clockwise through such predetermined arc, the reverse control stem 28 engages the sprinkler righthand fingerrill and the continued movement ofnthe head causes the stem 28 to be moved across from one side of'the bracket 23 to the other. This causes thesnap action spring unit 3| to function to throw the'head rotating arm 25 to the other side of the head I and bring the right-hand shoulder 26 into the path of the right-hand stop 20. When this is done, the entire cycle of movement is reversed, so that the arm 8 will then swing freely to the left side as it had previously swung freely'to'the right side. Then as it passes through the stream and swings to the right side, the blocked movement ofthe right-hand stop 20 engaging the right-hand shoulder 26 will impart rotary movement to the sprinkler head in a clockwise direction and in step by step relation, just as it had previously imparted a like movement in a counter-clockwise direction.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that'the swing of the arm in either direction and the movement imparting action thereof to the head I is independently controlled on each side by the respective spring l8; that is, each spring of these springs l8 acts independently on one side only of the impulse arm to positively return it to neutral position, and the control of its movement on either side of the head is thus independently regulated. This very definitely distinguishes from that type of sprinkler in which it is intended to control both movements of the impulse arm with a single spring.

By reason of the independent control for each swing of the impulse arm,- and the factthat-the control means comes each time to a positive po-' sition, which brings the impulse arm to neutral, there is no necessity of an exceptionally fine adjustment of the spring being had. Furthermore, there is no possibility of the arm being carried and held past neutral position, which would cause the sprinkler to come to a stop since, once the arm stops pa-st' neutral position, the driving vane I3 is held clear of the stream of water discharging from the jet I which furnishes the motive power for the sprinkler.

-It will also be noted that due to the shifting vane l3, each step of the drive of the sprinkler is induced directly by the force of the water striking the vane l3 and imparting movement to the impulse arm, as contradistinguished from the socalled reaction sprinklers and those in which the movement of the impulse arm is derived in one direction solely by reason ofthe impulse arm striking an element on the sprinkler head as it returns toward neutral position under the reaction of a spring disposed substantially axially of the impulse arm anddirectly connected there- TwIn-my, inventionsit will-be noted that there is no direct spring connection between the impulse arm andthe spring i in that the independent springs. on ,each side-{thereof ,do not act directly against. the impulse arm, but there are intermediate connectionsincludingthe stop elements IS on the body. of ,the sprinkler,which always control the returnumovement of thestop members 20 so that when-once, the impulse arm reaches neutral position, noz-further movement thereofcan be imparted. thereto'by the spring.

vBy. reason of this special and independent springcontrol means, thereare no parts ofthe sprinkler which-canget out of adjustment, .but the action thereofin either orboth directions is absolutely'positive, andiis accomplished with a minimumof vibration or risk of dislocation of operating parts. i

ltisutoibeparticularlynoted that: another as.

vantage of my independent and positive. controlis thatv even should the :"spri-nkler standebecome slightly tilted from the vertical, as-often happens in practice, the continued positiveaction of'the parts as described will not beseriouslyimpaired;

which advantage is lacking; in -.other types. of part-circle sprinklers.

The reverse control ,stem28 may be made in two parts hinged at ;28a.at apointabove the stop fingers .30. the device into a full-circle instead ofnpart-circle sprinkler, it, is only necessaryto move the lower end of this stem 28 on its hinge point soasto clear thestop fingers-30 as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 1, leaving the head I thenifreeto' move continuously step by stepcompletely aboutxthe axis of the stand pipe. This full..circle movement may be either clockwise or eountereclockwise, depending on. the position at which the'stop shoulders 26 maybe set. This means of converting the device at will either-into a part-circleor full-circle sprinkler is of a veryconsiderable practical value, as will be obvious.

Furthermore, the tension of each of springs ,l 8 may be adjusted toregulateF-thespeed of return of the impulse arm 8 from. aswingin either di rection. Thus, any movement of .thesprinkler head in either direction may-be fast or slow at the selection of the operator.

The dual nozzles 4 and 6 both pointing, in the same direction present a featureof; great. importance. The nozzle operates the sprinkler and the water jetting; therefrom is diffused by the operating mechanism-into an area close around the standpipe. Theqother nozzle 4, with its jet being uninterrupted, throws a'stream for long distance coverage away i from the standpipe the two, nozzles thusmaking 'for. better distribution than can be had from acne-nozzle sprinkler heretofore thought necessary'inconnection, with part circle sprinklers.

From. the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have producedsuch a device as substantially fulfills the;objects of thezinvention asset forth herein.

.While this specification sets, forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in praoticesuch deviationsfrom such detail may be resorted to as donot form. a. departure from the spirit of theinvention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation and having a nozzle projecting therefrom andprovided with a jet opening, an. impulse arm mounted for oscillatory movement on the head and havinga-predetermined neutral position, a cam finger on the arm, a disc mounted toturn on an axis on thehead, a spring tending to turn the. disc imeans'onthe disc "engageable with the cam finger, means whereby. waterissuing-from the; jet opening will swing: theimpluse arm-outward with:the cam finger moving the disc against the resistance of the spring, the disc and spring functioning to act against the cam fingerandreturnthe arm to neutral position after each outward-swing.

2. .A rotary. sprinkler comprlsing a sprinkler head mounted for rotation and having a nozzle projecting therefrom and providedwith a jet opening, an impluse arm mounted for. oscillatory movement on the head and having' a predetermined'neutral position; acarn' finger-on'thearm,

Thus, whenit is desired to convert,

a disc mounted to turn on an axis on the head, a spring tending to turn the disc, means on the disc engageable with the cam finger,.. means whereby water: issuing from the jet opening will swing theimplusearm outward with the cam finger movingthe disc against the-resistance of the spring, the disc and-spring functioning to act against the cam finger and return the arm to neutral position after each outwardswing; a

stop means on the head and means on the disc engageable with said stop whereby to stopthe rotation of the disc after the arm has-reached neutral position.

3. A rotary sprinkler. comprisingv a. sprinkler head mounted for. rotation in a substantially. horizontal plane and. having a laterally projecting nozzle; an impulse arm mounted on the: head for rotationabout a fixed axis, meanson the arm capable of moving into thejet fromthe nozzle in such a manner that the force of the jet willalternately swing the arm first to-one side of thejet and then to the other, means whereby each'alternatemovement of the arm in onedirection will impart a step by step movement of the headin one direction, the arm when in neutral .position being in substantial parallelism with the-axis of the nozzle, and opposed springs separately acting on the arm to return thesame to neutral position after any swinging movement and tending to hold the arm in such neutral position.

4. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane and having a laterally projecting nozzle, an impulse arm mounted on the head for rotation about a fixed axis, means on the arm capable of moving into the jet from-the nozzle in such a manner that the force of the jet willalternately swing the arm first to one side of the-jet and then to the other, separate springs mounted on the head on opposite sides of said axis, means between thearm and springs to causethe tension of the springs to be alternately and temporarily increased upon alternate swinging movements of the arm and stop means between the head and one spring engageable upon a predetermined tensioning of said spring.

5. A sprinkler as in claim 4, with means to manually control the tension of said one spring;

6. A sprinkler as in claim 4, with means to independently and manually control the tension of the springs.

7. A sprinkler as in claim 4, with-means allowing of unwinding of the springs to an extent only sufficient to return the arm to neutralposition; the arm when in such position lying in substantial parallelism withthe axis of the nozzle.

8. A sprinkler'as in-claime, with" means to independently and manually control the tension of the springs, and stop means allowing of unwinding of the springs to an'extent only-sulficient toreturn the arm to neutral position irrespective of the initial tension of the springs; the arm when in such position lying in substantial parallelism with the axis of the nozzle.

9; A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation in asubstantially horizontal plane and having a laterally projecting nozzle,,an impulse arm mounted on the head for rotation about afixed axis, means on the arm capable of moving into the jet fromthe nozzle in such a manner that the force of the jet will alternately swing the arm first to one side of the jet and then. to the other, separate springs mounted on thehead on Opposite sides of said axis, means. between: the arm and springsv to cause the tension of the springs to be alternately and temporarily increased upon alternate swinging movements of the arm and stop means between the head and the springs alternately engageable upon a predetermined tensioning of the corresponding spring by swinging of the arm in a corresponding direction.

10. A sprinkler as in claim 9, with means to selectively and independently control the initial tension of the springs.

11. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane and having a laterally projecting nozzle, an impulse arm mounted on the head for rotation about a fixed axis, means on the arm capable of moving into the jet from the nozzle in such a manner that the force of the jet will alternately swing the arm first to one side of the jet and then to the other, separate helical springs mounted on the head on opposite sides of said axis and disposed in axial alinement transversely of the head at right angles to the arm axis, radially projecting lugs attached to one end of the springs and movable circumferentially about the spring axis to increase the tension of the springs upon movement of the lugs in one direction, stop means limiting unwinding of the springs and corresponding movement of the lugs, cooperating stop means between the head and one spring engageable upon a predetermined movement of the corresponding lug in a spring tensioning direction and opposed fingers on the arm both engaging the lugs when the same is in neutral position and the springs are unwound to their limit.

12. A sprinkler as in claim 11 with means independently and selectively to adjust the initial tension of the springs without afiecting the position of the lugs when the springs are unwound to said limit.

13. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane and having a laterally projecting nozzle, an impulse arm mounted on the head for rotation about a fixed axis, means on the arm capable of moving into the jet from the nozzle in such a manner that the force of the jet will alternately swing the arm first to one side of the jet and then to the other, means whereby each alternate movement of the arm in one direction will impart a step by step movement of the head in one direction, th arm when in neutral position being in substantial parallelism with the axis of the nozzle, a spring to returnthe arm to said neutral position after the arm has swung in one direction, another spring adapted to be tensioned upon swinging movement of the arm in the other direction and functioning to subsequently return the arm to a neutral position and stop means between the head and said other spring engageable in a manner to cause rotation of the head upon a predetermined tensioning of said last named spring.

14. A sprinkler as in claim 13, with means to selectively and independently adjust the initial tension of the springs.

15. In a rotary sprinkler, a sprinkler head mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane, means to cause a rotation of the head in one direction and means operating after the head has moved through a predetermined arc in said one direction to eiiect a rotation of the head in the reverse direction; such last named means comprising stops on the head on opposite sides of its axis, an arm engageable at one end with the stops alternately, means pivoting the arm at its other end on the head, a relatively short arm pivoted in common with and below the first named arm for rotation independently thereof and extending in the direction of the one end of said first named arm, a stem depending from the outer end of the last named arm, circumferentially spaced stops on the sprinkler below the head and between which the stem projects and a snap action spring unit between the arms.

WILLIAM A. BUCKNER.

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