US2728603A - Lawn and garden sprinkler - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1955 H, STAGG 2,728,603

LAWN AND GARDEN SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 13, 1954 g i NToR nited States Patent@ rlirwce LAWN AND GARDEN SPRINKLER James H. Stagg, Salt Lake City, Utah Application December 13, 1954, Serial No. 474,774

7 Claims. (Cl. 299-18) This invention relates to improvements in sprinklers which are automatically manipulated through reaction of water under pressure, and provides a sprinkler which is adaptable, through various adjustments to the sprinkling of small to relatively large areas and ranging through relatively narrow to wide practically straight strips, through semi-oval to semi-circular, on one or either side of the sprinkler, making it possible to sprinkle practically over any desired area within the scope of the sprinkler.

This invention can be made in several dierent forms, the simplest form of which operates only about a horizontal plane, while in other forms it can be made to operate about any desired axis from horizontal to vertical and to sprinkle in either, any intermediate, or in both directions, and in addition, the nozzles are provided with axially adjustable defiectors for deecting the spray in any angular direction from the nozzle, making the sprinkler universal in its adaptability and application.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows: v

First, to provide a sprinkler which can be arranged for coupling of a garden hose to either end of the sprinkler.

Second, to provide a sprinkler in which the spray nozzles are provided with deectors which are adjustable about the axis of the nozzles for controlling the width or relative area of the path to be sprinkled.

Third, to provide a sprinkler which is provided with a stator having a single feed passage for sequential discharge through a circular series of nozzles, and in which the stator is axially adjustable for differential spraying on respective sides of the sprinkler.

Fourth, to provide a sprinkler in which the axis of the sprinkler is adjustable through an angle of at least 90 degrees for varying the pattern and direction of the spray.

ln describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings,` in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the simplest form of the invention, and showing only one nozzle.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l, but modiiied to include three equally angularly spaced nozzles.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the invention drawn to a reduced scale, with the support end shown in section and illustrating the adjusting means for adjusting the axis of the sprinkler to any desired angle ranging from horizontal to vertical, and for adjusting the stator about its axis.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 illustrates fragmentarily in section a modification in which the hose coupling is provided at the support end of the stator.

Fig. 6 illustrates the arrangement for the forward end of the stator and rotor for the rear coupled hose illustrated in Fig. 5.

The invention, in its simplest form, consists of a stator 2,728,603 Patented Dec. 27, 1955` 10 having an annular ange 11 provided at its outer or free end, and having an axial bore formed in the free end and terminating in spaced relation to the other or support end 13 as indicated at 14. A radial passage 15 formed through the wall of this stator communicates with the axial bore and forms the single feed passage, and radial passages 16 and 17 are formed through the opposite wall in axially spaced relation to the passage and serving only to equalize the pressure on opposite sides of the stator for frictionless lloating operation of the rotor on the stator.

Suitable sealing means 18 is provided for the respective ends of the stator, and suitable securing means 19 is provided for securing the other end 14 of the stator to a support 20 which is provided with a suitable base 21.

The hose coupling 22 is shown as coupled to the outer or free end of the stator, this coupling having an inturned ange 23 to grip tl1e inside of the flange 11 on the stator, and is caused to grip by the male element 24 on the hose 25 with intervening hose washer 26 for sealing.

The rotor consists of a sleeve 27 which rotatably tits the stator and which sleeve is slightly shorter than the space between the ange 23 and the bracket 20 for free running, and this rotor has a series of radial passages 2S which are threaded to receive the spray heads 29 and which are formed to a T-shape including the leg 30 and the cross head 31, the leg 30 having a passage 32 which is communicable with a passage 33 in the cross head and which passage is formed axially in one end and terminates in spaced relation to the other end 34.

This T-shaped member permits the cross head to be used as a wrench handle for adjusting the angle of the spray head relative to the axis of the rotor for controlling the location of a narrow spray path and for controlling the width of the path sprayed through adjustments of the spray heads in different directions angularly.

Suitable securing means such as a wing nut 36 is provided for securing the spray head in angularly adjusted position. To provide a divergent, relatively iine spray, and to further control the direction and width or area of the spray, the nozzles or spray heads are provided with detlectors 37 which may be iixed to the nozzle as indicated at 38, the deectors being inclined into the path of the jet from the nozzle, but are preferably made adjustable as is clearly indicated in'Fig. 2, and consisting of a clamp 39 which is formed integral with the deector and which encircles the nozzle and is provided with a clamp screw 40 and wing nut,41 for securing the deflector in any desired adjusted position. With this deflector the spray can be directed forwardly or rearwardly or in both directions relative to the sprinkler.

For assembling, the stator is passed into the coupling 22, the rotor is then slipped onto the stator and the stator secured to its support. The Wing nuts are screwed onto the legs 30 which legs are in turn screwed into the passages 28, adjusted to the desired position, and the wing nuts tightened. lf the deectors are not to be made adjustable, they are welded or brazed to the nozzles, but if they are to be adjustable, they are applied and clamped onto the nozzles. The hose washer is inserted into the coupling 22 after which the male member of the hose coupling is screwed into the female coupling 22, making the sprinkler ready for use.

The combined angular span of the passage 15 plus twice the angular span of the passage 28 is made about equal to or slightly less than the angular distance between the spray nozzles, causing the sprinkler to be self-starting when water under pressure is delivered to the stator.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification in which the stator is rotatably adjustable on its axis to provide for equal or any proportionate spraying in respective directions from the sprinkler, and consists of an adjusting lever 42 which is fixed on the rear end of the stator, and with the terminal end of the stator being threaded and passing through the support bracket 43, and with this threaded portion being provided with a nut 44 shown provided with a wrench arm 45.

When the lever 42 is in a vertical position as shown, the passage i5 is located at top center, and distribution will be equal in both directions from the sprinkler if the detlector is adjusted in the normal plane shown in Figs. l and 2, while if the lever is adjusted to any other position indicated dotted at 42' and 42, sprinkling will be confined to one or the other side of the sprinkler, and it at some intermediate position, more spray and a greater distance will be covered on one .side relative to the other side of the sprinkler. With the stator adjusted as desired, the nut 44 is tightened to secure the stator in its adjusted position.

A further modification is also shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the sprinkler being pivoted to the support bracket as by a hinge joint 46 having a bolt 47 serving coincidently as a pintle, and with the terminal pintle sleeves 4S and 49 formed on the respective upper and lower bracket members to permit the head of the bolt to be fixed to one bracket member as by welding or brazing as indicated at 50, with the wing nut 51 engaging the pintle sleeve 49 to clamp the hinge joint in any adjusted position, permitting the sprinkler to be adjusted to any position from horizontal to vertical.

With the detlectors adjustable as indicated in Figs. l and 2, and the stator rotatably and angularly adjustable, the sprinkler can be adjusted to sprinkle an area of almost any desired area and form within the limits of practical operation, and ranging through a relatively straight strip, through semi-oval to semi-circular, and the stator can be adjusted to sprinkle the other half of the oval or circular area without changing the position of the sprinkler.

With the completely adjustable type it may prove convenient to have the water connection at the rear end of the stator as indicated in Fig. 5, with the threaded end 52 made larger in diameter to receive one member 54 as indicated at 53, of a hose coupling, and having the bore 55 formed through the rear end` of the stator with the outer end closed.

Thus a universal sprinkler is provided, one which can be adjusted to sprinkle any defined area within the irnpulse limits of the jets, and ranging through a relatively short to long narrow or wide path, through semi-oval to semi-circular, equally on both sides or differentially betwee the two sides or only on one side of the sprinkler, and a sprinkler which is self starting upon delivery of water under pressure to the sprinkler.

l claim:

l, A sprinkler comprising a support, a stator adjustably mounted on said support for rotative adjustmentv at will and having a connection for a source of water under pressure, a rotor rotatable on said stator and having -a plurality of equi-angularly spaced nozzles, said stator having an axial passage formed in one end for said connection and terminating in spaced relation to the other end, a single passage formed through the wall of said stator in continuous communication with said axial passage and in sequential communication with said nozzles during rotation of said rotor, a dellector for each nozzle and each nozzle having a terminal portion, and each dei'lector including a clamp portion to clamp about said terminal portion and including releasing means for rotative adjustment on said terminal portion, and a deector plate inclined relative to the axis of said clamp member and extending across the path of the jet from the nozzle for controlling, in conjunction with the rotative adjustment of said stator, the direction and extent of projection of the spray from the nozzle relative to the sprinkler, said nozzles each including a leg portion having one end threaded into the wall of the rotor and including securing means for securing the leg portion in any relative adjusted position, said leg portion terminating at the other end in a nozzle portion formed in angular relation to the leg portion with the said deflector mounted and rotatably adjustable thereon for the purpose specified, said support comprising a base member, and a support member for the stator, said base member and said support member being pivotally connected and including securing means for securing the support member to the base memher in any angularly adjusted position through an angle of not less than 90 degrees for adjusting the axis of the stator to any position ranging from horizontal to vertical, and in conjunction with the rotative adjustment of the stator and of the deflectors providing control of the form, direction, and extent of the path or area to be sprinkled as related to the location of the sprinkler, thereby providing a universal sprinkler.

2. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axial passage, a rotor rotatable on said stator,

supporting means and a hose connection for said stator, said stator having a radial delivery passage through one wall, and radial pressure balancing passages formed through the opposite wall for substantially frictionless floating operation of the rotor on the stator, a plurality of sprinkler heads equi-angularly supported by said rotor and sequentially communicative with said delivery passage, and a detiector for each sprinkler head and projecting inclinedly upward in the path of the jet from the sprinkler head, said supporting means comprising a bracket having one end of saidistator supported thereby, an adjusting lever mounted on Said stator for rotatably adjusting said stator for differential spraying on respective sides of said sprinkler and including securing means for securing the stator in any rotatably adjusted position.

3. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axial passage, a rotor rotatable on said stator, supporting means and a hose connection for said stator and said stator having a radial delivery passage provided through one wall, and radial pressure balancing passages formed through the opposite wall tor substantially frictionless oating operation of the rotor on the stator, a plurality of sprinkler heads equi-angularly supported by said rotor and sequentially communicative with said delivery passage, and a deector for each sprinkler head and projecting inclinedly upward in the path of the jet from the sprinkler head, said supporting means comprising a bracket having a base and an upstanding member including adjustable means and securing means therefor for said sprinkler for adjusting said stator to any desired angle ranging from horizontal to vertical for varying the area sprinkled from a straight narrow path to a relatively wide path through semi-elliptical to semi-circular at will.

4. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axial passage, a rotor rotatable on said stator, supporting means and a hose connection for said stator and having a radial delivery passage provided through one wall of the stator, and radial pressure balancing passages formed through the opposite wall for substantially frictionless oating operation of the rotor on the stator, a plurality of sprinkler heads equi-angularly supported by said rotor and sequentially communicative with said delivery passage, and a detiector for each sprinkler head and projecting inclinedly upward in the path of the jet from the sprinkler head, said sprinkler heads each comprising a T-shaped member having a leg threaded into the wall of the rotor and a cross head functioning as a wrench handle for adjusting the relative angularity of the cross head with respect to the axis of the stator for controlling the direction of projection of the spray, with one arm of said cross head comprising a nozzle for the sprinkler head, said supporting means comprising a bracket having one end of said stator supported thereby, an adjusting lever fixed on said stator for rotative adjustment for differential sprinkling on respective sides of said sprinkler and including securing means for securing said stator in rotatably adjusted position.

5. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axial passage, a rotor rotatable on said stator, supporting means and a hose connection for said stator, a radial delivery passage provided through one wall of said stator, and radial pressure-balancing passages formed through the opposite wall for substantially frictionless floating operation of the rotor on the stator, a plurality of sprinkler heads equi-angularly supported by said rotor and sequentially communicative with said delivery passage, a deliector for each sprinkler head and projecting inclinedly upward in the path of the jet from the sprinkler head, said sprinkler heads each comprising a T-shaped member having a leg threaded into the wall of said rotor, and a cross head functioning as a Wrench handle for adjusting the relative angularity of the cross head with respect to the axis of the stator for controlling the direction of projection of the spray, with one arm of said cross head comprising a nozzle for the sprinkler head, said supporting means comprising a bracket having a base and an upstanding member including adjustable means and securing means therefor for said sprinkler for adjusting said stator to any desired angle ranging from horizontal to vertical for varying the area sprinkled from a straight narrow path to a wide path through semi-oval to semi-circular at will, thus providing for limitation of sprinkling to any desired area.

6. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axial passage and a radial delivery passage provided through one wall, a rotor rotatable on said stator, supporting means and a hose connection for said stator, radial pressure balancing passages formed through the other wall for substantially frictionless oating operation of the rotor on the stator, a plurality of sprinkler heads equi-angularly supported by said rotor and sequentially communicative with said delivery passage, and a defiector for each sprinkler head and projecting inclinedly upward in the path of the jet from the sprinkler head, said supporting means comprising a bracket having one end of said stator supported thereby, an adjusting lever lxed on said stator for rotatable adjustment of the stator about its axis for differential spraying on respective sides of the sprinkler and including securing means for securing the stator in any adjusted position, said bracket being intermediately hinged and including means for securing the hinged members in any adjusted position for adjusting the axis of the stator to any desired angle ranging from horizontal to vertical for varying the area sprinkled from a straight narrow path to a relatively wide path through semi-oval to semi-circular, thus providing for limitation of sprinkling to any desired area about the sprinkler.

7. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising a stator, a rotor rotatable on said stator, a hose connection for said stator, a plurality of equi-angularly spaced sprinkler heads threadedly mounted in said rotor, an axial passage provided in said stator, and a radial passage communicating with said axial passage with said radial passage communicating sequentially with said sprinkler heads, a deflector projecting forwardly and inclined upwardly in the path of the jet from each sprinkler head and being rotatably adjustable thereon to control the direction of sprinkling, a bracket for supporting said stator, a lever iixed on said stator for adjusing the stator about its axis for differential sprinkling on respective sides of the sprinkler, and means for securing said stator in adjusted position, said bracket being intermediately hinged on a horizontal axis and including securing means for adjusting and securing the axis of the stator to any position ranging from horizontal to vertical for varying the sprinkling pattern from a straight and narrow path to a relatively wide path through semi-oval to semi-circular areas, whereby sprinkling may be carried out to suit the specific area requiring sprinkling.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,766,514 Henry June 24, 1930 2,560,662 Rieger July 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 401,506 Germany Sept. 4, 1924 556,168 France Apr. 9, 1923 960,051 France Apr. 1l, 1950

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