Patent ID: 6179221
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B05B

Abstract:
A sprinkler, which comprises:(a) a flow conduit having a top portion;(b) a sprinkler nozzle releasably coupled to the top portion of the flow conduit;(c) a filter screen having an upper end which is held between the nozzle and a locating surface within the flow conduit when the nozzle is coupled to the top portion of the flow conduit, the filter screen extending downwardly within the flow conduit to terminate in a lower end that is spaced beneath the nozzle;(d) a flow shut off valve within the flow conduit, which comprises:(i) a valve seat having an annular, ring shape;(ii) a valve member that can be moved out of and into engagement with the valve seat to open and close the flow conduit to the passage of water, the valve member being engaged by the lower end of the filter screen to space the valve member away from the valve seat to open the flow conduit to the passage of water when the nozzle and filter screen are installed in the top portion of the flow conduit, the valve member being disengaged sufficiently by the lower end of the filter screen when the nozzle is removed to permit the valve member to engage the valve seat to close the flow conduit to the passage of water when the nozzle is removed, the valve member comprising a poppet valve member that includes a stem that extends through the valve seat when the valve seat and valve member are joined together;(iii) wherein the valve seat and valve member are insertable as a unit into the flow conduit after the valve seat and valve member are joined together; and(iv) wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of foldable leas having tabs thereon, the legs having a first orientation relative to the valve seat allowing the stem of the valve member to be inserted through the valve seat, the leas being bendable from the first orientation thereof to a second orientation in which the tabs on the legs underlie the valve member to retain the valve member within the valve seat; and(e) wherein the flow shut off valve is located a fixed distance from a reference point in the top portion of the flow conduit so that a common filter screen can be used to engage the valve member in flow conduits of varying length.