US2707655A

US2707655A - Stop devices for traveling lawn sprinklers

Info

Publication number: US2707655A
Application number: US375684A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur F Steen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-08-21
Filing date: 1953-08-21
Publication date: 1955-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1972-05-03

Description

7 y 3, 1955 A. F. STEEN 07,655

STOP DEVICES FOR TRAVELING LAWN SPRINKLERS Filed Aug. 21. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L mm mmcfmm A TTORNE Y May 3, 1955 A. F. STEEN STOP DEVICES FOR TRAVELING LAWN SPRINKLERS Filed Aug. 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVENTOR. fier/m/P 572-? A T TOR/IE Y United States Patent 2,707,655 STOP DEVICES FOR TRAVELING LAWN SPRINKLERS Arthur F. Steen, Denver, Colo. Application August 21, 1953, Serial No. 375,684 4 Claims. (Cl. 29950) This invention relates to a stop device for :lawn sprinklers of the type having a water actuated mechanism for causing the sprinkler to travel along a garden hose as it sprinkles.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a stop device which can be positioned at any desired point in the path of a traveling sprinkler and which when engaged by the sprinkler will stop further forward travel thereof.

The invention is more particularly designed for use on sprinklers of the type which travel along the water hose as they sprinkle and has for one of its objects the provision of a device which can be positioned at any desired point along the hose and which will stop the travel of the sprinkler at the desired point without stopping the operation of the sprinkler.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved sprinkler stop device;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section therethrough, taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view, illustrating a conventional traveling sprinkler approaching the improved stop device; and

Fig. 4 is a similar View illustrating the sprinkler stopped by the device.

In the drawing, a conventional lawn or garden hose is indicated at and the elements of a conventional traveling sprinkler attached thereto are designated by numeral as follows: main frame 11; grooved guide wheels 12; drive wheels 13, provided with ratchet traction teeth 14; circular wheel weights 15, wheel actuating ratchet 16; and rotating sprinkler head 17.

The rotation of the sprinkler head 17 actuates the ratchet 16 to cause the latter to engage the teeth 14 so as to force the entire springler along the hose 10 guided by the grooved guide wheel 12. The circular wheel weights are secured to and project outwardly from the drive wheels 13. The wheel weights serve a double purpose in that they limit the distance the drive wheels enter the turf and they provide weight on the drive wheels for firm traction engagement.

This invention comprises a fiat base plate 18 of sheet metal or the like provided with hose clips 19 along its medial line. The longitudinal sides of the base plate 18 are bent upwardly and downwardly to form inverted V-shaped guide edges 20. The base plate is provided with an upturned forward extremity 21 having a central hose notch positioned above a ground engaging point 22. Two flaring sprinkler aligning arms 23 extend upwardly and outwardly from each of the side guide edges adjacent the rearward or entering extremity of the base plate.

Two

track bars

24 and 25 are secured to the floor plate 18 immediately inside of the guide edges 20 at the entering extremity of the floor plate.

7 O The track bar 25 is provided with a plurality of tooth openings 26 and the other track bar 24 is provided with a single tooth opening 27 in staggered relation to the openings 26.

A roller plate 28 is secured to each of the side edges 20 and inclines inwardly corresponding to the incline of the side edge. Each of the plates 28 carries two spacedapart idler rollers 29 journalled about roller shafts 30 upon suitable inclined supporting bars 31. The rollers project upwardly and inwardly above the top edges of the roller plates 28.

In use, the hose 10 is positioned in the notch of the forward extremity 21 and in the hose clips 19 so as to extend medially of the base plate 18. The sprinkler gradually approaches the base plate and the guide wheel 12 travels forwardly therealong. The drive wheels 13 enter upon the

track bars

24 and 25 guided by the aligning arms 23 and the ratchet teeth 14 of one wheel engage the openings 26 therein. The guide wheels now travel up the incline of the track bars and forwardly to a position in alignment with the first rollers 29. The track bars at this point are inclined downwardly, as shown at 32 to allow the circular wheel weights 15 to rest upon and between the pairs of rollers 29, as shown in Fig. 2. At this time the guide wheel 12 contacts the upturned extremity 22 and the drive wheels continue to rotate without further forward movement of the sprinkler frame 11.

It will be noted that although the stop device has stopped forward movement of the frame 11, it does not stop rotation of the sprinkler head 17 since the drive wheels may continue to rotate without tractive effort.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A stop device, for a traveling lawn sprinkler of the type having two oppositely positioned, toothed drive wheels each carrying a concentric, circular wheel weight and a guide wheel arranged to travel along a garden hose to guide said sprinkler therealong, comprising: a base plate adapted to be positioned beneath said hose at any desired point therealong to receive both drive wheels of t the traveling sprinkler; medially positioned hose-engaging out of contact with said base plate without retarding rotation of the latter.

3. A stop device for lawn sprinklers as described in claim 2 having inclined track means mounted on said base plate and positioned to receive and elevate said drive wheels sufficiently to place said wheel weights on said rollers.

4. A stop device for lawn sprinklers as described in claim 3 having an upwardly-turned, forward extremity on said base plate against which the guide wheel of said sprinkler will rest when the drive wheels thereof are supported by said rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS