US1753841A - Sprinkler having projectable nozzle - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1930 w. yAN E. THMPsoN 1,753,841

`SPRINKLER HAVING PROJ ECTABLE NOZZLE TTORNEY.

April 8, 1930- .l w. VAN E. THOMPSON 1,753,841

SPRINKLER HAVING PROJECTABLE NOZZLE Filed May 25. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 y .itatented Apr. 8, 1930 WALTER VAN E. THOMPSN, OF LOS ANGELES, CLIFURNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THOMPSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA., A CORPORATIN OF CALIFRNI SPRINKLER HAVING PRJECTABLE NOZZLE Application led May 25,

t@ cealed position below the surface of the ground. When the sprinkler is brought into operation, the nozzle is automatically projected to a osition above the surface ofthe ground so t atit may spray water over an tt adjacent area.

1t is another object of my invention to provide a sprinkler of this character having a n novel means by reason ot which the nozzle is projected when water is supplied thereto.

lt is another object of my invention to provide a sprinkler of this character having a rotating nozzle. By such arrangement a circular area of considerable size may be irrigated by my sprinkler. The nozzle of my sprinkler may have a pair of jets or water passages, one of which is arranged to irrigate an outer annular area, and the other of which is arranged to irrigate the inner circular area. By providing only two streams which rotate it is possible to have considerable pressure so that the radius of the outer stream may be considerable and will be somewhat longer than other sprinklers employing a greater number of radially extending jets.

lt .is a further object of my invention to provide a novel means for rotating the nozzle.

lt is also an object of my invention to provide a novel gear reduction unit which Ais situated between the driving means and the nozzle. whereby the rotation of the nozzle mav be greatly diminished relatively to the driving means so that the radius of the streams owing from the nozzle will not be reduced due to whipping action which occurs when a nozzle is rotated at an appreciable speed.

lt is a still further object of my invention to provide a sprinkler having a unique assembly which permits an easy removing and member 16. Supported on theupper face of 1925. Serial No. 32,621.

adjustment of various departments thereof. @ther objects and advantages of my invention will be made manifest hereinafter.

Referring to the three sheets of drawings` in which I illustrate a preferred form of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a use of my I invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a sprinkler embodying the features of my invention.

F ig. 3 is a plan view of the sprinkler of my invention with the casing thereof removed.

t is a section taken on the line 4-4 of 1g. lP Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of F Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig.. 7 isl a' fragmentary detail of the driving means of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a. bottom lan view of a rotor of the driving means o my invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, my invention rovides a sprinkler 11 which is surrounded y a casing 12 and'which issituated below the surtace of the ground 13. As shown `clearly in Fig. 2, the sprinkler 11 comprises a shell provided in the form of a cylindrical member 16 having a bottom plug 17 which screws into the lower end thereof and a cap 18 which screws into the upper end thereof. A supply pipe 20 is threaded into the plug 17 at 21 and is adapted to supply water into the shell. A strainer23 having a multiplicity of openings 24 rests on a face 25 of the plug 17. Placed above .the strainer .23 is a sleeve 28 which tits snugly within the cylindrical the sleeve 28 is an impeller plate 29. As clearly shown in Figs. 2, 6 and the impeller plate 29 has a series ot semi-cylindrical depressions 30 which provide water passages 31. These water passages are so shaped that water flowing therethrough takes a direction indicated byan arrow 33 of Fig. 7. A cylindrical spacer 38 which tits snugly in the cylindrical member 16 is impeller plate 29.v

placed .above the l. wg

i viding a rotor chamber 43 between itself and the impeller plate 29. The cup member 42 provides a radial wall 44 and a cylindrical wall 45 which extends upwardly from the radial wall 44, this radial wall 44 being somewhat smaller in diameter than the inside of the cylindrical member 16. An annular shoulder 50 of a cover 51 extends inside the upper end of the cylindrical wall 45 of the cup member 42, the upper end'of the wall 45 engaging an inner part of a flange 53 of the cover 51. Lugs 55, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, are provided for strengthening the cylindrical wall 45 and for receiving screws 56 which clamp the cover 51 to the cup member 42.

Extending through a hub 57 which extends from the radial wall 44 is a rotor shaft 58. The lower end of the rotor shaft 58 is secured to a web 59 of a rotor 60 located in the rotor chamber 43. The web 59 is of the shape shown clearly in Figs. 2, 7 and 8 having a conical portion 63. Extending downwardly from the outer annular radial portion 64 are vanes 65 which extend tangentially as clearly shown in Fie. 8.

On the end of? the rotor shaft 58 extending inside the gear unit box is a gear which drives a gear 71 journaled on a countershaft 72 which is parallel to the rotor shaft 58 and is secured in place between the radial wall 44 and the cover 51. A gear 73 formed integral with the gear 71 rotates a gear 74 loosely mounted on the lower end of a drive-shaft 7 5. The drive-shaft 75 has a bearing sleeve 76 pinned to the lower end thereof into which the upper end ofA the rotor shaft 58 extends and in which it journals. A gear formed integral with the gear 74 rotates therewith and imparts rotation to a gear 81 rotatably carried on a second countershaft 82 which is supported between the radial wall 44 and the cover 51.` Formed integral with this gear 81 is a gear 83 which drives a gear 85 loosely carried on the drive-shaft 75. The integral gears 81 and 83 are retained in position by a pair of spacers 86. Formed integral with the gear 85 is a gear 88 which drives a gear 89 rotatably carried on the first countershaft 72 and retained in place by a spacer 90. A gear 91 integral with the gear 89 rotates a gear 94 which is pinned on the drive-shaft 75 below the cover 51. The shaft 75 extends through a hub 99 of the cover 51 and has a Maasai having heads 107 by which they may be advanced to clamp the parts tightly inside the shell.

A sleeve 110 is threadably secured at 111 to a flange 112 of the head 18 of the shell. `A tube portion 113 of a nozzle plunger 114 extends through cylindrical opening 115 of the sleeve 110. A head 116 is formed at the lower end of the tube 113, this head having a shoulder 117 which engages a face 118 of the sleeve 110 when the nozzle plunger is in its uppermost position. A diametrical slot 120 is formed in the head 116 into which slot the tongue 101 extends. A nozzle 122 is secured at the upper end of the tube 115 having openings 123 and 124 for the spraying of water.

VJ hen the sprinkler is `-.ituated in position for use, the casing 12 is extended therearound so that a cylindrical wall thereof surrounds the shell and an annular face 131 thereof engages an upper face of the head 18. The casing has an upper radial wall 132 having an opening 133 therein through which the nozzle 122 is extended into sprinkling position. y

Vhen water is supplied to a sprinkler of my invention, it passes into the shell through the pipe 20. This water is preferably very carefully strained before it is given to the sprinkler system. It is again strained by the strainer 23 before it passes through the mechanism of the "sprinken The water passes through the passages 31 of the impeller plate 29, the water passing in a direction as indicated by the arrow 33 of Fig. 7, the water having a twirling motion. The water catches the vanes 65 of the rotor 62 and the rotor is thereby revolved. This revolves the rotor shaft 58 which rotates the gear 70. This rotation is transferred through the chain of gears 71, 73, 74, 80, 81` 83, 85, 88, 89, 91 and 94, thus rotating the drive-shaft 75. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 4 that this chain of gears serves to reduce the speed of the drive-shaft 75 relative to the rotation of the rotor 60. The reduction of these gears in actual practice is about 250 to 1. The drive member 100 is rotated with the drive-shaft 75 and the tongue 101 thereof rotates the nozzle plunger 114 due to its engagement with the side wall of the slot 120.

During this time water Hows through openings in the flange 41 and upwardly around the cylindrical wall 45 of the cup member 42. The water then passes through openings 141 in the iange 53 and into a chamber 144 above the reduction gear unit. The water fills the chamber 144 and then flows through a passage 145 of the nozzle plunger 114 and it is then forced through the openings 123 and 124 of the nozzle 122. As the pressure builds in the chamber 114, a force is exerted against the head 116 of the nozzle plunger 114 which serves to project amasar jected position, the nozzle is in the open and there is no interference to the streams of water owing through the openings 123 and From the description it should be noted that the nozzle plungerV 11d is projected only when water is supplied to the sprinkler 11 and that I, at all other times the nozzle 122 rests in concealed position inside the casing 12 and below the surface of the ground. When the nozzle plunger and nozzle are in projected position, the pressure of the shoulder 117 en'- gages the face 118 of the sleevell() and preother conditions.

vents leakage, The driving means of my invention does notl in any way adect the elll- 'ciency of the sprinkler and is very suitable in this use. 'lhe feature of rotating the nozzle vat a very slow rate of speed is quitel desirable as\ it eliminates whipping of the streams of water which would reduce the rradii of the streams and consequently reduce the sprinkling area of. the sprinkler. f

ln the device shown the gear reduction between the rotor and the nozzle plunger 1141 is about 250 to l and the nozzle plunger will rotate at one or two revolutions per minute according to the pressure of the water and a suitable lubricant.

lhe reduction gear unit box is in communication with the interior of the shell -only along the shaits 75 and 58, respectively, which are journaled in bearing openings in the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the box. As

the water passing through the sprinkler is at substantially the same pressureat all points within the shell, it is readily seen that a balanced pressure is produced at the only two places where water might tend lto enter the reduction gear unit box, or lubricant might tend to escape. into the water chambers-and the intrusion of either fluid into the chamber occupied by the other is edectively prevented.

ll claim as my invention:

1. lln a sprinkler, the combination oi: a

shell; means for supplying water to said shell; an impeller plate carried in said shell; a rotor arranged adjacent to said impeller .f plate; a rotor shaft carrying said rotor; `a

drive-shaft; gear mechanism connecting said rotor shaft with said drive-shaft; a drive member carried by said drive-shaft; and a projectable nozzle plunger carried by said shell, said nozzle plunger being driven by said drive member, but being axially movable relative thereto.

2. ln a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell, a nozzle plunger projectably carried by said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted to remain in projected position when sprinkling and-in retracted position when idle; means for supplying water to said shell,

said nozzle plunger being adapted to be projected by said water; a rotor in said shell adapted to be operated by said water as it Hows through said shell to the nozzle plunger, and reduction ratio transmission means connecting said rotor with said nozzle plunger for rota-ting` said nozzle plunger..

3. 1n a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plunger proj ectably carried by said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted to remain in'projected position when sprinkling and to automatically return -to retracted position when idle; means `for supplying water to said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted to be projected by said water; a rotor in said shelladapted to be operated by said water as it Hows through said shell to the j nozzle plunger; and reduction ratio transmission means connecting said rotor with said nozzle plunger for rotating saidv nozzle plunger.

4. ln a sprinkler, the combination oi: a. shell; a nozzle plunger projectably carried by said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted to remain 'in projected position when sprinkling and to automatically return to rem tracted position when idle; means for supplying water to said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted to be projected by said water; a rotor in said shell loperated by said water as it flows through said shell to the nozzle plunger and independently of the direction of liow of said water from said nozzle plunger,

and reduction ratio transmission means connecting said rotor with said nozzle plunger for rotating said nozzle plunger.

5.. ln a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plunger projectably carried by said shell; means for supplying water to said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted'to be projected by said\water; a rotor in said shell adapted to be operatedby said water as it Hows through said shell to the nozzle plunger; and means connecting said rotor to said nozzle plunger. j,

6. ln a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plunger carried by said shell means :tor supplying water to said shellsaid nozzle plunger being adapted to be projected by said Water; a driving rotor adapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor to said nozzle plunger for rotating said nozzle plunger; a box enclosing said last named means, said box having bearing openings communicating with the interior of said shell; and a lubricant in said box, said bearing openings being so located that Water pressure in said shell Will be balanced at said openings thus preventing intrusion of Water into said box.

7. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plunger carried by said shell; means for supplying water to said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted to be projected by said Water; a driving rotor adapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor to said nozzle plunger for rotating said nozzle plunger, said means including shafts a box enclosing said lastnamedmeans, said box having bearing openings in Which said shafts operate and throu h which they extend into said shell; and alu ricant in said box, said bearing openings being subjected to a substantially balanced water pressure whereby said lubricant is retained in said box, and intrusion of Water is prevented.

8. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle plunger carried by said shell; means for supplying Water to said shell, said nozzle plunger being adapted to be projected by said Water; a driving rotor adapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor to said nozzle plunger for rotating said nozzle plunger; a box enclosing said last named means, said box having bearing openings communicating With the interior of said shell; and a lubricant in said box, said box being so located that the Water pressure in said shell will be substantialy equal on all sides thereof so that said lubricant will not be expelled. from said box.

9. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle carried by said shell; means for supplying Water to said shell; a driving rotor adapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor to said nozzle for rotating said nozzle; a box enclosing said last named means, said box having openings communicating with the interior of said shell; and a lubricant in said box, said box being so located that the Water pressure at said openings Will be substantially equal so that said lubricant Will not be expelled from said box.

10. In a sprinkler. the combination of: aA

shell; a nozzle carried by said shell; means for supplying Water to said shell; a driving rotor adapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor to said nozzle for rotating said nozzle; a box enclosing said last named means, said box having openings communicating with the interior of said shell; and a lubricant in said box, said openings being so located that Water pressure in said shell will be balanced at said openings thus preventing intrusion of Water into said box.

11. In a sprinkler, the combination of: a shell; a nozzle carried by said shell; means for supplying Water to said shell; a driving rotor adapted to be operated by said Water; means connecting said rotor to said nozzle for rotating said nozzle, said means including shafts; a box enclosing said last named means, said box having openings in which said shafts operate and throu h Which they extend into said shell; and a lu ricant in said box, said box being so located that the Water pressure at said openings will be substantially e ual so that said lubricant will not be expelle from saidjbox.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 18th day of May, 1925.

WALTER VAN E. THOMPSON.

nrnrittnnrt 'ott I oonnnorton.

noon no. Lmstr. t i @ramt non o, teso, to

wntrnn VAN n. rttottrson.

4is hereby certiiied that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line l2?, claim 5, aiter tile Word "piunger and before the period insert the words "for rotating said nozzic piunger"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the Vcaso in the Patent i. v

Signed and sealed this t3th day oi May, A. D. 3930.

Y M. J. Moore, (Soni) Acting Commissioner ot Patents.

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