US3091397A

US3091397A - Self-propelled sprinkler

Info

Publication number: US3091397A
Application number: US208880A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wynstra John
Original assignee: LYNDEN METAL CRAFT CO Inc
Current assignee: LYNDEN METAL CRAFT CO Inc
Priority date: 1962-07-10
Filing date: 1962-07-10
Publication date: 1963-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-28

Description

J. WYNSTRA SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLER Original Filed May 14, 1958 May 28, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 John Wynsfra INVENTOR. BY mm, MW

Arm-n May 28, 1963 J. WYNSTRA SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLER Original Filed May 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 John Wynsfra w Q t mm vm Qv INVEN TOR.

BY Attorneys May 28, 1963 J. WYNSTRA SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLER Original Filed May 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 John Wynsfra 1N VEN TOR.

BY mm. MW Ammuy:

May 28, 1963 J. WYNSTRA 3,091,397

SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLER Original Filed May 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ja/m Wynsrra l N VEN TOR.

M MAMA United States Patent 3,091,397 SELF-PRUPELLED SPRINKLER John Wynstra, Lyndon, Wash, assignor to Lyndon Metal Craft Co., Inc., a corporation of Washington Continuation of application Ser. No. 735,202, May 14, 1958. This application July 10, 1962, Ser. No. 208,880 6 Claims. (Cl. 239-183) This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 735,202, entitled Self-Propelled Sprinkler, filed May 14, 1958, now abandoned.

This invention relates to lawn sprinklers and particularly to self-propelled lawn sprinklers that are operated from power obtained from the same Water supply which is used to distribute water over the lawn or other area.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel selfpropelled sprinkler that has a diaphragm type reciproeating motor intermittently charged and purged of water from the water supply by a valve whose timing is coordinated with the operation of the motor.

The motor is preferably made of a chamber that has a flexible wall, for example a diaphragm, to which a walking beam actuating rod has been secured. The walking beam serves two functions. The first function is to intermittently operate a pair of drive wheels on the sprinkler and the second is to time the valve and actually operate the valve to cause the motor to reciprocate. Considering now the valve, it is a multi-position valve. In one position a valve port registers the water supply with the fluid motor so that the motor actuated rod moves the walking beam through its power stroke. At'another position the valve has one or more ports registered with the motor chamber and the atmosphere so that the motor is purged of at least some of the water. But this water is used as a supplementary spray since it is discharged generally laterally of the sprinkler and onto the lawn or other area that is being watered. In the operation of the sprinkler these valve positions are successively obtained causing the sprinkler to operate over an indefinite area and to distribute water over that area. The valve discharge supplementary spray can be made to reach the area adjacent to the sprinkler or can be discharged over a larger area. However, the main spray from the sprinkler is obtained from a rotating sprinkling head that is in direct registry with the pressure of the water supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structurally simple and compact self-propelled sprinkler that is adapted to be guided by the same hose that supplies water under pressure to the sprinkler for both sprinkling and sprinkler propulsion. Only three weeksv are necessary in the sprinkler, one exerting a guiding function on the sprinkler since it is grooved and disposed on the hose, while the other wheels are drive wheels engaged by a drive structure connected with the walking beam. The walking beam is powered by the fluid motor when the walking beam is moved in one direction, and is spring returned to the opposite extremity in its movement. During the power stroke of the walking beam the drive wheels are moved, and during the power stroke and spring return stroke of the walking beam, the valve is continually adjusted through its valve cycle of operation.

The invention is embodied in a unique structural arrangement of a self-propelled sprinkler.

These together with other objects and advantages which will be apparent reside in the details of construction and operate as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG.- 1 is a side view of the sprinkler showing it as it would appear when operatively connected with a water r 3,091,391 Patented May 28, 1963 hose, with one rear wheel omitted for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sprinkler and hose in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front view,- with parts shown in section, of the sprinkler and hose in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the valve part of FIG. 6 with the valve in the position at which the supplementary water spray is discharged to the lawn or other area and at which the motor chamber is purged.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9-. is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 9-9 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 2 and showing the guide wheel spindle assembly.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the walking beam.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one of the drive pawls that is engageable with teeth on one of the drive wheels.

In the accompanying drawings there is a water conduit 10 preferably a garden or other type of flexible hose. This hose is adapted to attach to a source of water under pressure and to pipe 12 that constitutes a part of water sprinkler 14. The water sprinkler has a main frame 16 that is constructed in separate parts, as illustrated, or as a single casting. When separate parts are used, there is a bottom section 18, a top section 20 and an intermediate section 22, all bolted together by stay bolts 24. The bottom section has a flat base 26 from which

flanges

30 and 28 depend. Axle 34 for the two rear drive wheels 36 and 38- is mounted for rotation in hearings in

flanges

28 and 30. Each drive wheel has a plurality of spaced teeth 40 thereon which serve two purposes. One purpose is to obtain traction by acting as treads and the other purpose is to constitute part of a one-way drive connection. The teeth on

wheels

36 and 38 cooperate with the remainder of the wheels to form ratchet wheels with which

pawls

42 and 44 are engageable.

Pipe 12 is suspended beneath the lower section 18 by

hangers

46 and 48 to which

clamps

50 and 52 are fastened. The pipe is held by the clamp and has a coupling 58 at one end with which the hose 10 is connected. An elbow '59 is at the opposite end of pipe 12 and has a riser 60 attached to it. Note that the rotary spray head 62 is at the top of riser 60 and this provides primary spraying water from the water supply and that is connected by hose 10.

The front end of the frame and more particularly pipe 12, has a caster assembly 64 that includes a grooved wheel 65 mounted on hose 10. The grooved wheel constrains the movement of the caster assembly, the latter being capable of rotating a full 360 about its vertical spindle 67. The spindle is secured in a bearing 68, and the bearing is carried by mounting bracket 69 that is welded or otherwise secured to elbow 59 and that protrudes forwardly thereof.

A fluid motor 70 is in the frame 16 and is of the reciprocating type. Intermediate section 22 of the frame is cylindrical enclosing 'a motor chamber 72. A diaphragm 74 extends across the chamber 72 and is attached between mounting flange 75 of section 22 and the lower surface of the flat plate or base 76 of upper section 20. A walking beam actuating rod 78 is secured to the metal "ice valve core is seen best in FIGS. 9 and 3.

backing plate 79 of the diaphragm 74 and is passed through an opening 80 in the base 76. This opening vents the part of chamber 72 above the diaphragm 74 with the part of the chamber 72 below the diaphragm adapted to receive Water from hose '10 and under considerable pressure which may be regulated by valve 84.

Motor 70, being a reciprocating motor, moves the push rod 7 8 through its reciprocatory path of travel. The rod has a fork 86 at its upper end that forms an upwardly opening saddle within which a part of walking beam 88 is disposed. There is a slot 89 in the walking beam, and a pin 98 passed through that slot and carried by the sides of the yoke. This drivingly connects the walking beam to the fluid motor so that as the actuating rod 78 is reciprocated, the walking beam is caused to pivot about its spindle 92.

The spindle 92 has reduced ends (FIG. 11) disposed in bearings or simply in openings formed in the upstanding walls 93 and 94 of the upper section 20 and that rise vertically from the side edges of base 76 thereof. A transverse spindle 95 is at the opposite end of the walking beam and has reduced ends on which pawls 42 and 44 are pivotally mounted. Typical pawl 42 is shown in FIG. 12, consisting of a boss 98 at one end and having a tooth 100 at the opposite end. The tooth projects laterally from the body of the pawl so that the pawl can be located between the

drive wheels

36 and 38 but yet have the tooth drivingly engage the teeth 40 of the two drive wheels. FIG. 8 shows the internal detail of boss 98. It has a setscrew 102 radially and adjustably mounted in it with the inner end of the set-screw reduced to fit in a circumferential groove 104 formed in the reduced end of spindle 95 (FIG. 11). Therefore the pawls are free to pivot on spindle 95 but cannot slide off the ends thereof. It is now evident that as the reciprocating motor is set into operation, walking beam '88 will pivotally oscillate and drive the

wheels

36 and 38 to propel the entire sprinkler, as constrained in its motion by the caster assembly 64. At the same time spray head 62 distributes water throughout an area around the sprinkler.

In order to cycle the motor 70 a valve 108 is carried by the frame '16 and has means for delivering water under pressure from pipe 12 (and hence hose 10) to the valve. These means consists of a conduit 114 that has one end connected with pipe 12 through valve 84. The valve can act as a throttle valve and an on-otf valve. The opposite end of conduit 114 is registered with a port 116 in valve body 118. The valve body is threaded or otherwise se cured to the side wall of frame intermediate section 22 and is registered with the chamber 72 (FIG. 4).

Valve 108 is a multi-position valve. It has a cylindrical core 12!) mounted for oscillation in the valve body 118. A collar 122 is at one end of the valve core and abuts an end of the valve body to limit the motion of the valve core axially with respect to the body 118. A seal 124 serves the usual purpose of establishing a seal between the valve body and valve core. Valve chamber 126 is in the valve core and is registered with the chamber 7 2. The valve core has a water inlet port 130 adapted to register with port 116 when water under pressure is to be introduced into chamber 72. The valve core is capable of being turned to a new position at which port 116- is closed and port 138 registers with one or a group of discharge ports 136 in valve body 118. Ports 136 are preferably but not necessarily laterally arranged with respect to the sprinkler so that when water is discharged through ports 13-6, it forms a secondary sprinkler for the area adjacent to the sprinkler.

As stated previously the valve core is adapted to oscillate in :a rotary manner. The structure for actuating the It consists of an arm 140 that is secured to the spindle 95 and to a spring 142. A number of holes can be provided in arm 140 so that the spring tension can be changed by attaching it into a selected hole. Lever 144 is attached to the opposite end of the spring and is passed through a passage 148 (FIG. 4) transversely through valve core 120. Accordingly, as the walking beam is raised and lowered by motor 78, the valve is caused to move to and through its various positions. In one position (FIG. 4) water under pressure is delivered through conduit 114 and into the chamber 72 by way of port 138 and valve chamber 126. Since chamber 72 is exposed to considerable water pressure, the diaphragm lifts thereby lifting the walking beam 88 and causing the

wheels

36 and 38 to be rotated through a few degrees. Meanwhile ports 136 are closed by the valve core, and the sprinkler head 62 providing primary water is rotating. As the walking beam begins to lift the valve core begins to rotate in valve body 118 thereby closing the port 116. The sprinkler has a spring 150 attached at one end to walking beam 88 and attached at the other end to an eye 152 or the like of frame section 18. This spring opposes the upward movement (power stroke) of the walking beam 88 and causes the walking beam to return to a rest position. In so returning, port 138 registers with the group of single ports 136 thereby purging the chamber 72 of a considerable quantity of the water therein and causing this water to be distributed through ports 136 that function as small nozzles, and yield a secondary spray.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-propelled lawn sprinkler comprising:

(a) a carriage including a main frame;

(b) a diaphragm motor on said main frame, with a diaphragm element spanning most of the width of said main frame;

(0) conduit means delivering water under pressure to said carriage and to said diaphragm motor;

(d) a water flow control mechanism on said main frame including a two-position snap action valve actuated by movement of the said diaphragm element to deliver water under pressure to said motor during a power stroke and vent said motor during a return stroke;

(e) drive means for said carriage including a lever element pivotally attached to said frame at one end, with carriage driving pawl mechanism at the other end, the said drive means further comprising an actuating connection between the diaphragm element of said motor and an intermediate part of said lever element; and

(f) means resiliently loading said diaphragm element to move same through a return stroke when said chamber is vented by said water flow control mechamsm.

2. A self-propelled lawn sprinkler comprising:

(a) a wheeled carriage including a main frame;

(b) a diaphragm motor on said frame, with a flexible diaphragm element spanning most of the width of said frame;

(c) conduit means delivering water under pressure to said carriage and to said diaphragm motor;

(d) a water flow control mechanism on said carriage including a two-position snap action valve actuated by movement of the diaphragm element of said motor to deliver water under pressure to said motor during a power stroke and vent said motor during a return stroke;

(e) drive means for said carriage including a thirdclass lever mechanism pivotally anchored to said carriage at one end and intermediately connected to said diaphragm element, with pawl mechanism at the other end of said lever mechanism arranged to drive said carriage during a power stroke of said diaphragm element; and

(7) means resiliently loading said diaphragm element to move same through a return stroke when said chamber is vented by said water flow control mechanlsm.

3. In a self-propelled lawn sprinkler carriage comprising a wheeled frame with branched conduit means delivering water under pressure to a spray head and to a water pressure actuated motor carried by said frame; the improvements comprising:

(a) a lever type drive mechanism including a pivoted beam, one end of which is pivotally anchored to said frame and the other end of which mounts a pawl mechanism intermittently driving said carriage;

(b) a motive element in said water actuated motor consisting of a movable plate engaging a flexible diaphragm overlapping said plate and maintained in clamped engagement with a fixed chamber wall, with the said plate, diaphragm and fixed wall defining an enclosed pressure chamber spanning most of the width of said frame;

() means drivingly linking said movable plate to said pivoted beam at a point intermediate the ends of said beam to provide a driving action characterized by the generation of third-class leverage;

(d) a two-position valve constituting the control means for said motor, and arranged in the water delivery conduit associated with said motor, said valve being positionally linked to said pivoted beam and at one position thereof placing said enclosed chamber in communication with the associated branch conduit to deliver water under pressure to said pressure chamber and generate a motive power stroke by movement of said movable plate, and at the other position thereof communicating said pressure chamber for exhaust thereof to atmosphere to interrupt the power stroke and permit a return stroke of said movable plate;

(e) means resiliently loading said beam and movable plate to return same to power stroke initiating position when said valve is in its chamber exhausting position; and

(f) manually controllable valve means in said branched conduit for regulating the proportion-ate flow of water into said pressure chamber and thereby regulating the speed of the power stroke of said motor.

4. A lawn sprinkler adapted to be propelled by water under pressure in a hose and be guided by the hose, said sprinkler comprising:

(a) a firame having a forwardly mounted guide wheel to track along the hose and a pair of rearwardly mounted, laterally disposed drive wheels to straddle the hose;

(b) lever means having one end thereof pivotally mounted forwardly on said frame, with pawl means at the other end thereof actuating ratchet means by which the sprinkler is propelled forwardly;

(c) a water-actuated motor situated under said lever means and just forwardly of the rearwardly mounted drive wheels, said motor comprising an enclosed, variable volume pressure chamber defined by a stationary wall, a movable wall, and a flexible diaphragm arranged between said walls with a portion of said diaphragm being in fixed relation to each of said walls, the said flexible diaphragm and movable wall spanning a major part of the width of said frame and being responsively moved by water under pressure in said chamber to generate motive movement of said movable wall;

(d) means drivingly linking said movable wall to a point intermediate the ends of said lever means; (e) a water supply line connecting said hose to said pressure chamber;

(f) a dual-position valve in said water supply line,

said valve having porting at a first position for directing water under pressure into said pressure chamber and having porting at a second position for exhaust-ing water from said pressure chamber;

(g) valve actuation structure connecting said dualposition valve to said lever means and operating said valve synchronously with the movement of said lever means, the said valve actuation structure operating to shift said valve to said first position when said movable wall is at about a minimum chamber volume position and to said second position when said movable wall is at about a maximum chamber volume position; and

(h) means resiliently Loading said flexible diaphragm andmova'hle wall to move same through a return stroke when said valve is. in said second position.

5. A self-powered lawn sprinkler comprising:

(a) a carriage including a main frame having laterally disposed drive wheels;

(b) a reciprocating diaphragm motor on said main frame, with a diaphragm element spanning most of the width of said main frame;

(e) drive means for said carriage including:

(1) ratchet means connecting with at least one of said drive wheels;

(2) a lever element pivotally connected to said iirame at one end with pawl mechanism at the other end constructed to engage and drive said ratchet means during upward movement of both the lever element and the pawl mechanism and slip over said ratchet means durin g downward movement of said lever element and said pawl mechanism;

(3) the said drive means further comprising an actuating connection between the diaphragm element of said motor and an intermediate part of said lever element; and

(1) means resiliently loading said diaphragm element to move same through a return stroke when said chamber is vented by said water flow control mechamsm.

6. A lawn sprinkler adapted to be propelled by water under pressure in a hose and be guided by the hose, said sprinkler comprising (a) a frame having a forwardly mounted guide wheel to track along the hose and a pair of rearwardly mounted, laterally disposed drive wheels to straddle the hose;

(b) ratchet means connected with at least one of said drive wheels;

(c) lever means having one end thereof pivot-ally mounted forwardly on said frame, with pawl means at the other end thereof constructed to engage and drive said ratchet means during upward movement of both said lever means and said pawl means and to slip over said ratchet means during downward movement of said lever means and said pawl means, with pawl actuation of said ratchet means causing forward propulsion of the sprinkler;

(d) a water-actuated, reciprocating motor situated under said lever means and just forwardly of the rearwardly mounted drive wheels, said motor comprising an enclosed, variable volume pressure chamber defined by a stationary wall, a movable wall, and a flexible diaphragm arranged between said walls with a portion of said diaphragm being in fixed relation to each of said walls, the said flexible diaphragm and movable walls spanning a major part of the width of said frame and being responsively moved by water under pressure in said chamber to generate motive movement of said movable Wall;

(e) means drivingly linking the said movable Wall to a point intermediate the ends of said lever means;

(1'') a water supply line connecting said hose to said pressure chamber;

(g) a dual-position valve in said water supply line,

said valve having porting at a first position for directing water under pressure into said pressure chamber and having porting at a second position for exhausting water from said pressure chamber;

(h) valve actuation structure connecting said dualposition valve to said lever means and operating said valve synchronously with the movement 01E said lever means, the said valve actuation structure operating 8. to shift said valve to said first position when said movable Wall is at about a minimum chamber volume position and to said second position when said movable Wall is at about a maximum chamber volume position; and

(1") means resiliently loading said flexible diaphragm and movable wall to move same through a return stroke when said valve is in said second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. A SELF-PROPELLED LAWN SPRINKLER COMPRISING: (A) A CARRIAGE INCLUDING A MAIN FRAME; (B) A DIAPHRAGM MOTOR ON SAID MAIN FRAME, WITH A DIAPHRAGM ELEMENT SPANNING MOST OF THE WIDTH OF SAID MAIN FRAME; (C) CONDUIT MEANS DELIVERING WATER UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID CARRIAGE AND TO SAID DIAPHRAGM MOTOR; (D) A WATER FLOW CONTROL MECHANISM ON SAID MAIN FRAME INCLUDING A TWO-POSITION SNAP ACTION VALVE ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF THE SAID DIAPHRAGM ELEMENT TO DELIVER WATER UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID MOTOR DURING A POWER STROKE AND VENT SAID MOTOR DURING A RETURN STROKE; (E) DRIVE MEANS FOR SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING A LEVER ELEMENT PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME AT ONE END, WITH CARRIAGE DRIVING PAWL MECHANISM AT THE OTHER END, THE SAID DRIVE MEANS FURTHER COMPRISING AN ACTUATING CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DIAPHRAGM ELEMENT OF SAID MOTOR AND AN INTERMEDIATE PART OF SAID LEVER ELEMENT; AND (F) MEANS RESILIENTLY LOADING SAID DIAPHRAGM ELEMENT TO MOVE SAME THROUGH A RETURN STROKE WHEN SAID CHAMBER IS VENTED BY SAID WATER FLOW CONTROL MECHANISM.