POP-UP BUTTERFLY SPRINKLER

Abstract: A pop-up butterfly sprinkler, the sprinkler having a sprinkler head (4) connected to a hollow plunger (3) reciprocating in a barrel (20). The barrel (20) carries at its upper end a cup (18) to receive the sprinkler head (4) in the lowered position, the head carrying a cap (27) to close the cup. Water pressure raises the head and cap, a spring (25) acting on the plunger to retract the head on termination of water pressure.

Description: "POP-UP BUTTERFLY SPRINKLER" This invention relates generally to pop-up sprinklers, more particularly to pop-up sprinklers having a butterfly sprinkler therein. 5. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Pop-up sprinklers are well known, these generally having a fixed head or spray jet whereby the water impinges against a fixed member to spray the water 10. in the desired area. However to the applicants knowledge there is not available a pop-up butterfly sprinkler and it is an object of this invention to provide such a 15. sprinkler. BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Thus there is provided according to the invention 20. a pop-up butterfly sprinkler, the sprinkler including a barrel adapted to be attached to a water supply, a hollow plunger operating in said barrel, said plunger being biased downwardly by a spring acting against the bottom end of a cup, said barrel being 25. releasably attachable to said cup, a butterfly sprinkler situated within said cup and attached to said hollow plunger, said sprinkler carrying at its top a cap adapted to seat on the top of the cup when the sprinkler is in its lowered position, the arrangement being 30. such that water pressure will raise the plunger and sprinkler thus compressing the spring which returns the sprinkler to its lowered position upon release of water pressure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodiment will now be described 5. with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the sprinkler in the lowered position, and 10. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sprinkler in the raised position. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 15. The sprinkler illustrated in the figures comprises a body 1 having a screw thread 2 whereby it can be secured to the hollow plunger 3 and has two arms 4-4 projecting upwardly to a bearing 5 which is located in a bore 6 at the junction of the arms, 20. which arms, define a space in which the rotating head operates. A rotating head 7 has an upwardly projecting shaft 8 which engages in the bearing 5, the shaft 25. 8 and bore 6 of the bearing 5 being dimensioned so that when water pressure is exerted on the rotating head 7, the head is lifted into the upper operating position with the end of the shaft 8 bearing against the inner end of the bore 5. 30. The shaft 8 has a tapered configuration having a lower part 9 fitting into a dust skirt 10 extending down from the bottom of the bearing so that when in its lowered position the skirt 10 shrouds the larger part 9 of the shaft 8 to prevent dust or 35. grit getting into the bearing itself which commences at the upper end of the skirt 10. OMPI The rotating head 7 is generally similar to the heads used heretofore in that it comprises a moulding with a curved shaped director 11 in which is formed a channel 12 which terminates at the lower 5. end to surround the axis of the shaft 8 of the rotating head and curves upwardly and outwardly to direct water laterally and is caused to rotate by the reaction due to the curve of the channel. The rotating head 7 extends downwardly sufficiently far to fit into 10. a recess 13 which is axially arranged with the shaft 8 of the rotating head 7 so that limited lateral displacement only is possible of the lower part of the rotating head 7 to ensure that the head 7 or shaft 8 cannot be damaged or removed. 15. The lower part 14 of the rotating head 7 which extends into the recess 13 terminates above a jet orifice 15 formed in the end of an insert sleeve 16 which is an interference fit in the body to hold it in position allowing it to be pushed or driven 20. into the bore in the body. The recess freely accom¬ modates that end of the head 7 remote from the bearing 5 to prevent significant lateral displacement of that end of the head. 25. The hollow plunger 3 passes through an aperture 17 in the bottom of a cup 18, the cup 18 having a bayonet fitting 19 to the upper end of a barrel 20. The bottom of the barrel 20 is formed with a screw thread or other connection 21 whereby connection 30. may be made to a source of water. The bottom of the hollow plunger 3 is provided with grooves 22 to engage over ribs 23 in the barrel wall. A gasket 24 of rubber or other like material is provided between the bottom of a cup 18 and the upper end of the barrel 20, the plunger 3 being biased downwardly by a spring 25, which spring rests 5. in a channel shaped ring 26 against the gasket 24. The upper ends of the arms 4 are provided with a snap-on cap 27 which in the lowered position of the sprinkler rests in a recess 28 in the upper 10. end of the cup to thereby close the end of the cup and prevent the ingress of dirt and the like into the cup in the lowered position of the sprinkler. The cap 27 is attached centrally of the arms by a snap connection 29 which allows slight movement 15. to provide alignment and sealing in the recess in the lowered position. By means of the constructions described the rotating head 7 is confined in an upward direction 20. by the end of the shaft 8 contacting the end of the bore in the bearing 5, and at that stage the enlarged part 9 of the shaft is disposed within the dust seal skirt 10 at the bottom of the bearing, but when supply of water Is terminated the rotating head 7 drops but not 25. sufficiently to bring the enlarged part of the shaft 8 out of the skirt 10. This ensures that the shaft itself is protected against dirt, the downward movement being limited by the lower part of the rotating head 7 contacting the upper end of the sleeve 16. 30. The rotating head 7 thus has limited up and down movement, and it will be appreciated that firstly the head has the upwardly protecting shaft 8 protected OMPI " against contamination because it is housed in the bearing and is protected by the dust seal skirt 10 which accommodates a larger portion 9 of the shaft 8, while the lower end of the head 7 is located 5. loosely in the recess 13 which is formed in the sleeve 16. This then ensures that the rotating head is protected against removal, not only as it is supported against sideways displacement by the shaft 8 engaging in the bearing 5, but by its lower 10. end fitting in the recess 13, limits sideways movement when relatively heavy forces are applied which could otherwise distort the spindle sufficiently to damage the rotating head. The arrangement is such that the lower end of the rotating head is a loose fit 15. in the recess 13 so that it is not guided by the wall of the recess but the wall merely limits excessive displacement of the lower part of the rotating head which as said could cause damage to the spindle or removal of the head. The recess 13 has slots 20. or cut-outs 29 which are provided to allow any dirt or debris or the like which may tend to collect in the recess to be readily thrown out by the rotating head and any water which may tend to collect in the recess, particularly on termination of flow 25. of the water. As noted above the hollow plunger 3 has grooves 22 to engage over ribs 23 on the barrel, this then limiting the plunger to a vertical movement and 30. preventing rotational movement of the hollow plunger. The plunger is not a sealing fit within the barrel, but the water pressure Is such that the water acting on the end of the hollow plunger, and OMPI also on the steps 30 and 31 forming the enlarged lower portion of the plunger ensures that the plunger raises to expose the rotating head above the cup 18. On termination of flow any water which is in 5. the space between the plunger and the barrel can then drain pass the lower end of the plunger, and if that space has water in it as the plunger tends to rise, the water can then flow backwardly past the lower end of the plunger without impeding its 10. upward movement. This sprinkler as described would be mounted in the garden or lawn or other area with the cap at or just below ground level, the upward movement 15. being sufficient to bring the rotating head above ground level and above any lawn or grass which may be growing around the sprinkler so that the water is directed above this lawn or grass. The cap seals to prevent any entry of dirt or foreign matter into 20. the cup when in the lowered position. Although one form of the invention has been described in some detail it is to be realised that the invention is not to be limited thereto but can 25. include various modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the Invention. ( OMPI

Claims: The claims defining the invention are as follows:- 1. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler, the sprinkler including a barrel adapted to be attached to a water supply, a hollow plunger operating in said barrel, said plunger being biased downwardly by a spring acting against the bottom end of a cup, said barrel being releasably attached to said cup, a butterfly sprinkler situated within said cup and attached to said hollow plunger, said sprinkler carrying at its top a cap adapted to seat on the top of the 10. cup when the sprinkler is in its lowered position, the arrangement being such that water pressure will raise the plunger and sprinkler thus compressing the spring which returns the sprinkler to its lowered position upon release of water pressure. 2. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler as defined in claim 1 characterised in that the barrel is releasably attached by a bayonet fitting to the bottom of the cup, a gasket being provided between the barrel 5. and said cup. 3. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler as defined In claim 2, characterised in that said springs around said plunger, said plunger having a stepped portion or flange at its lower end to receive said spring, with the upper end of said spring acting on a ring bearing against said gasket. 4. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler as defined in claim 2 characterised in that the lower end of said plunger and the internal surface of the barrel have co-operating means to prevent relative rotation OMFI 5. therebetween while allowing axial movement there¬ between, the clearance therebetween allowing leakage of water when the water pressure is terminated to allow retraction of said plunger. 5. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler as defined in claim 1 characterised in that said cap is attached to the top of the sprinkler by a central snap-on connection allowing slight movement for sealing 5. alignment in a circumferential recess in the top of the cup with the sprinkler in the lowered position. 6. A pop-up butterfly sprinkler substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: TUCKER ALFRED DENHOLM, TUCKER, ALFRED, DENHOLM
Applicants: RIS IRRIGATION SYST, RIS IRRIGATION SYSTEMS PTY. LIMITED
Application year: 1983
Main classification: B05B15
IPC codes: A62C37, B05B3, B05B15