Abstract:
A rotating bearing assembly for a sprinkler coupled to a pipe segment is disclosed. The bearing assembly has a stem which permits fluid flow. The stem has a bottom open end with a collar and a top open end which is connected to a cap. The cap allows connection to a sprinkler head which rotates from water pressure through the pipe segment. The stem conduit rotates in relation to a sleeve which is frictionally fitted within the pipe segment. A plurality of washers is located between the collar and the bottom of the sleeve to provide a water seal under high pressure conditions. Another group of washers is located between the top of the sleeve and the cap to provide additional sealing under low pressure conditions.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a bearing for a rotating sprinkler and more specifically for a bearing assembly which joins a sprinkler head to a pipe allowing for rotation of the sprinkler head. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Common sprinklers often involve rotating spray heads in order to maximize the distribution of water. Such sprinklers have a connector to a water source and a bearing which allows rotation of the spray heads. The sprinklers may be spiked to the ground or they may be supplied with a base which permits a user to place the sprinkler in a desired location. 
     Another common irrigation system uses a network of pipes connected to sprinkler heads which are installed on vertical pipes which are dispersed to irrigate a certain area. The sprinkler heads are installed on vertical pipes and are capped by a nozzle head which allows water to be forced out of the nozzle head, under pressure, in various spray patterns. The nozzle head design determines the spray pattern from the sprinkler head. In order to maximize the area which is covered by each of the sprinkler heads, the sprinkler heads are designed to rotate thus throwing water over a circular area. Also, in order to prevent the collection of fluid at a particular locale, it is highly desirable for the sprinkler heads to evenly distribute the water over the entire area to be irrigated. The rotation of such heads is accomplished by the pressurized water which provides the movement of the nozzle head by means of a series of internal vanes or orifice or outer body. A rotating bearing attaches the nozzle heads to the pipe. 
     Heretofore, prior art sprinkler bearings for both mobile and fixed sprinklers were ineffective because they could not create a water tight seal between the sprinkler and the pipe while insuring a low friction coupling of the head to the body and minimizing wear on the joint. Such known bearings may be water proofed but this requires additional materials and parts thus increasing the cost. 
     Thus there exists a need for a rotating sprinkler bearing which provides a water tight seal between the sprinkler and the supply pipe while insuring low friction coupling. There is a further need for a bearing for a sprinkler head which facilitates the even distribution of water by the sprinkler head at low and high pressure ranges. There is also a need to provide a sprinkler bearing assembly which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These needs may be met through the present invention which is embodied in a bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a fluidly connected outlet member from a pipe segment. The bearing assembly has a hollow, generally cylindrical stem extending along a longitudinal axis which defines a fluid conduit chamber. The stem has an inlet end with an annular collar and an outlet end. A cap is connected to the outlet end. The cap has an fluid inlet and an outlet with a connector connectable to the outlet member. A sleeve is provided having an open top end and a bottom end annularly located around the fluid conduit. The sleeve is in frictional contact with the interior of the pipe segment, where the cap and the stem rotate relative to the sleeve. 
     The invention may also be embodied in a bearing assembly for rotatably coupling a sprinkler head to a pipe segment. The bearing assembly has a hollow, generally cylindrical stem extending along a longitudinal axis and defines a fluid conduit chamber. The stem has an inlet end with an annular collar and an outlet end. A cap is connected to the outlet end. The cap has an fluid inlet and an outlet with a connector connectable to the sprinkler head. A sleeve having an open top end and a bottom end is annularly located around the fluid conduit. The sleeve is in frictional contact with the interior of the pipe segment, where the cap and the stem rotate relative to the sleeve. A low pressure sealing washer is seated around the stem between the top of the sleeve and the cap. A high pressure sealing washer is seated around the stem between the bottom of the sleeve and the collar of the stem. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are not limiting but are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the method and system of the invention. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sprinkler nozzle bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the rotating bearing assembly of FIG. 1 mounted on a pipe with a sprinkler head; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the major parts of the bearing assembly of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the rotating bearing assembly of FIG. 1 on an alternative mounting arrangement. 
     FIGS. 5A-5C are perspective views of various sprinklers which use the bearing assembly in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While the present invention is capable of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, there is shown therein a sprinkler bearing assembly generally indicated at  10 , which is an embodiment of the present invention. The bearing assembly  10  provides a fluid connection between a pipe segment  12  and a sprinkler head  14 . The pipe segment  12  provides pressurized water to the sprinkler head  14 . The sprinkler head  14  has a pair of arms which are fluid conduits and rotate when under pressure by the water. The arms have a series of outlets  16  which spray the pressurized water in a predetermined pattern. The rotation of the sprinkler head  14  thus provides irrigation in a circular area with a specific radius determined by the level of pressure of the water. Of course other types of sprinkler heads may be used with different patterns and the flow may be adjusted. 
     The bearing assembly  10  has a barbed cap  22  which is attached to a stem  24 . The cap  22  and the stem  24  are preferably turned from brass. However any suitable resilient material such as copper, steel or plastic may be used. The cap  22  and the stem  24  rotate relative to an annular sleeve  26 . 
     The cap  22  is roughly cylindrical in shape and has an open top end  28  and an open bottom end  30 . The top end  28  has an exterior surface  32  with a series of annular barbs  34 ,  36  and  38 . The barbs  34 ,  36  and  38  form a male connector  40  which may be joined to the sprinkler head  14  to create a water tight seal by pressing the barbs  34 ,  36  and  38  into the sprinkler head  14 . Of course other methods may be used to join the sprinkler head  14  to the male connector  40 . The top end  28  has a cylindrical lid  42 . An aperture  44  extends through the cylindrical lid  42  to allow water flow to the sprinkler head  14 . The open bottom end  30  has an annular collar  48  which has a larger diameter than that of the pipe  12 . The open bottom end  30  also has a circular opening  50  which has a diameter sufficient to insert the stem  24 . 
     The stem  24  has an open top end  52  and an open bottom end  54 . The top end  52  forms the end of a conduit  56  which provides water flow through the stem  24  to the sprinkler head  14 . The bottom end  54  has an opening  58  which allows the flow of water to the conduit  56 . The bottom end  54  also has an annular collar  60  which forms an annular shoulder  62 . The annular collar  60  has a diameter less than that of the pipe  12 . The top end  52  is inserted in the open bottom end  30  of the cap  22 . The stem  24  is joined to the cap  22  by a friction fit although other means such as welding or threading may be used. 
     The cylindrical sleeve  26  has an interior lining  64  and an exterior tube  66 . The interior lining  64  is ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene but other materials such as teflon or lubricant filled polymers may be used. The exterior tube  66  is preferably brass or copper but other metals may be used. The exterior tube  66  is optional but provides additional support and can assist in pressing the cylindrical sleeve  26  into the pipe segment  12 . The exterior contact layer  66  forms an exterior surface  68  and the inner tube forms an interior surface  70 . The diameter of the interior surface  70  is larger than that of the conduit  56  of the stem  24  and is sufficient to allow free rotation of the sleeve  26  around the conduit  56 . The cylindrical sleeve  26  has a top end  72  and a bottom end  74 . The top end  72  forms a shoulder rim  76  while the bottom end  74  forms a shoulder rim  78 . 
     A series of four washers  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  are inserted over the conduit  56  and rest on top of each other. The washer  80  rests on the shoulder  62  which is formed from the annular collar  60  of the stem  24 . The washers  80 ,  82  and  86  are Teflon while the washer  84  is an elastomeric material in this example for a fluid seal. The washers  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  form a high pressure seal as will be explained below. It is to be understood that there may be different numbers of washers to provide additional sealing or reduce wear due to friction. Also, other materials such as rubber, plastic or metal may be used for the washer. The shoulder rim  78  the sleeve  26  rests on the washer  82   
     A series of three washers  88 ,  90  and  92  are inserted over the conduit  56  and on top of the sleeve  26 . The bottom washer  88  rests on the shoulder rim  76  of the top end  72  of the sleeve  26 . The other washers  90  and  92  are stacked on the bottom washer  88 . The cap  22  is then inserted over the conduit  56  and is held in place by friction fit. The annular collar  48  of the cap  22  thus locks the sleeve  26  in place but allows the cap  22  and the stem  24  to rotate relative to the sleeve  26 . In this example, the washers  88  and  92  are Teflon and the washer  90  is elastomeric. Of course other types and numbers of washers may be used. 
     The assembly of the bearing system  10  is mated to the pipe segment  12  which may then be attached to a larger structure such as a sprinkler outlet pipe. The pipe segment  12  has an inlet end  94  and an outlet end  96 . The sleeve  26  is first inserted in the pipe segment  12 . The exterior surface  68  creates a friction fit with the interior walls of the pipe segment  12  thus fixing the sleeve  26  in place in relation to the pipe segment  12 . The washers  80 - 86  are slipped on the stem  24  to rest on the shoulder  62 . The stem  24  is then inserted through the inlet end  94  through the sleeve  26  until the washer  86  abuts the shoulder rim  74  of the sleeve  26 . A mandril  98  is then inserted through the inlet end  94  of the pipe segment  12  to hold the stem  24  in place. 
     In general, the sleeve  26  is flush with the outlet end  96  of the pipe segment  12 . The stem  24  extends through the outlet end  96 . The outlet end  96  of the pipe segment  12  may be crimped in order to hold the sleeve  26  better. The remaining washers  88 ,  90  and  92  are then slipped on the stem  24 . The cap  22  is then attached to the stem  24 . The assembly  10  may be connected to a pipe and a sprinkler head as noted above. The sprinkler head  14  is free to rotate since it is attached to the stem  24  and cap  22  which may be rotated relative to the sleeve  26 . 
     The groups of washers  80 - 86  and  88 - 92  provide a high and low pressure seal for the bearing assembly  10  respectively. At low water pressure, the weight of the cap  22  pushes the stem  24  downward. The elastomeric washer  90  provides the water seal and the two teflon washers  88  and  92  provide a reduced friction surface between the cap  22  and the sleeve  26  during the rotation of the cap  22 . Under higher water pressure in the pipe segment  12 , the shoulder  62  of the stem  24  is forced against the sleeve  26 . The elastomeric washer  84  creates a seal to prevent leaking between the pipe segment  12  and the sleeve  26 . The teflon washers  80  and  86  provide reduced friction surfaces for rotation of the stem  24  relative to the sleeve  26 . At very high pressure, the teflon washer  80  rotates with the stem  24  which creates a reduced friction contact with the teflon washer  82 . 
     FIG. 4 shows an alternative mounting arrangement for the bearing assembly  10  shown in FIGS. 1-3. Identical elements are labeled by the same element numbers as in FIGS. 1-3. The bearing assembly  10  is mated to a pipe socket  100 . The pipe socket  100  is generally cylindrical in shape to allow the flow of water to the bearing assembly  10  and has an inlet end  102  and an outlet end  104 . The pipe socket  100  is made of brass in this example, but other water resistant and resilient materials such as copper, steel or plastic may be used. 
     The pipe socket  100  has an upper interior surface  106  which holds the sleeve  26  by friction fit. As in the previous example, the stem  24  and the cap  22  are coupled together and rotate relative to the sleeve  26 . A high and low pressure seal is created by the washers  80 - 86  and  88 - 92  respectively. The inlet end  102  has a threaded interior surface  108  which forms a female connector  110 . This allows the pipe socket  100  to be installed on a male connector for a water conduit. The inlet end  102  has a cap  112  which provides a stop for an inserted male connector. The cap  112  has a collar  114  which is seated on an annular shoulder  116  formed on the upper interior surface  106 . The cap  112  is also brass in this example. The cap  112  has a hole  118  therethrough which allows water to flow to the conduit  56 . A contact surface for the male connector to the cap  112  is created by a rubber washer  120  which is mounted within the threaded interior surface  108  immediately behind the cap  112 . 
     The bearing assembly  10  in FIGS. 1-3 may be used in a variety of applications from underground, permanent sprinkler systems to portable or implantable sprinklers. FIG. 5A shows a portable rotating sprinkler  200  which may be connected to a hose  202 . The sprinkler  200  has a base  204  which allows it to be placed at a desired location on a lawn. The sprinkler  200  has a rotating spray head  206  which rotates under water pressure and distributes the pressurized water in a spray pattern. The rotating spray head  206  is joined to an internal pipe segment (not shown) via a bearing assembly  208  which is similar to the bearing assembly  10  in FIGS. 1-3. 
     FIG. 5B shows an implantable sprinkler  230  which is connectable to a hose  232 . The sprinkler  230  has a support pipe  234  which is supplied with water via a hose connector  236 . The pipe  234  is joined by a base member  238  which has a series of arms  240  with spikes  242  at their bottom ends. The base member  238  may thus be inserted into the ground to seat the sprinkler  230 . The top of the support pipe  234  is coupled to a rotating sprinkler head  244  via a bearing assembly  246  which is identical to the bearing assembly  10  in FIGS. 1-3. The rotating sprinkler head  244  has a circular pipe  248  with a number of water outlets  250  which spray pressurized water causing the head  244  to rotate. 
     FIG. 5C shows a trellis type sprinkler  260  which is connectable to a hose  262 . The sprinkler  260  has a trellis support pipe framework  264  which is supplied with water via a hose connector  266 . The pipe framework  264  is joined to a base member  268  which has a series of support members  270  with spiked shaped bottom ends  272 . The base member  268  may thus be inserted into the ground to seat the sprinkler  260 . The top of the support framework  264  is coupled to a rotating sprinkler head  274  via a bearing assembly  276  which is identical to the bearing assembly  10  in FIGS. 1-4. The rotating sprinkler head  274  has a circular pipe  278  with a number of water outlets  280  which spray pressurized water causing the head  274  to rotate. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the method and system of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, any application which requires a rotating bearing providing fluid connection from a pipe segment may use the bearing. Thus, the present invention is not limited by the foregoing descriptions but is intended to cover all modifications and variations that come within the scope of the spirit of the invention and the claims that follow.