Patent Publication Number: US-11040358-B2

Title: Rigid mount orbitor sprinkler with spider refuge

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/946,382, filed Apr. 5, 2018, pending, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/547,989, filed Aug. 21, 2017, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in this application. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSERED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     (NOT APPLICABLE) 
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to a rotating/wobbling sprinkler assembly and, more particularly, to a sprinkler that can be rigidly mounted on a center pivot (or other support structure) that disperses water using a spinning or rotating deflector plate and with orbital motion of the deflector plate assembly. 
     Moving irrigation systems such as conventional pivot or linear systems are known to incorporate conduit truss span assemblies that mount sprinkler heads, spaced along the truss assemblies for sprinkling or irrigating relatively large areas of land. The sprinkler heads may be mounted on top of the truss assemblies in a normal upright position, or they may be inverted and suspended from the span assemblies by means of drop tubes. Sprinkler heads are typically of the spinner type, which incorporate rotatable stream distributors (also referred to as rotor plates or spray plates, fixed spray plates or bubbler devices). 
     When irrigating large areas of land with pivot or linear sprinklers, the sprinklers need to be spaced apart as far as possible to minimize system hardware costs. Obtaining an even distribution of the water at wide spacings requires sprinklers that simultaneously throw the water long distances and produce sprinkling patterns that are even when overlapped with adjacent sprinklers. These two requirements are somewhat exclusive in that maximum radius of throw is achieved with concentrated streams of water shooting at relatively high trajectory angles. These streams, however, tend to produce a donut-shaped sprinkling pattern at low pressure that does not overlap evenly. The use of nutating or wobbling sprinklers to enhance distribution uniformity particularly at low pressure is known in the art, as evidenced, for example, by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,439,174; 5,671,885; 5,588,595; 5,950,927; 6,439,477; and 6,932,279. Wobbling type sprinklers can be problematic, however, in the sense that in some circumstances, the sprinkler simply rotates on its center axis without wobbling. This is particularly true if the sprinkler rotor plate is allowed to assume an on-center orientation when at rest. 
     There is a need for a sprinkler that can be rigidly mounted on a center pivot (or other support structure) that disperses the water in a combined rotating and wobbling manner. The existing designs have to be mounted on a damping device such as a 2′ minimum length drop hose to isolate the structure from the damaging vibration. Orbiting (or nutating or wobbling) sprinklers normally operate in the range of 1000-2400 orbits/min. The load from the deflected stream reverses direction at that speed, thus being the primary cause of vibration, but the mass and balance of the orbiting parts also affect the vibration. The magnitude of the vibration that reaches the structure is important, but it is also important that the frequency of the vibration not match up with the resonant frequency of the structure. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A rigid mount orbitor sprinkler assembly incorporates a deflector plate configuration that is configured for both spinning/rotating motion as well as orbital or wobbling motion around the center of a spool assembly. The sprinkler incorporates structure to reduce drool that may fall in a concentrated area below the sprinkler and to prevent debris from sandy water or the like from accelerating sprinkler component wear. With reduced vibration, the assembly may be rigidly mounted on a center pivot or other supporting structure while achieving the advantages associated with wobbling and rotating sprinkler assemblies. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a sprinkler includes a sprinkler body, a nozzle associated with one end of the sprinkler body, and a cap secured to or integral with an opposite end of the sprinkler body. The cap includes a central opening and at least one spider ingress opening, preferably three, positioned radially outward of the central opening. A deflector plate assembly supported by the cap includes a deflector plate at an upstream end facing the nozzle, a spool assembly supported in the central opening of the cap, and a counterbalance weight at a downstream end. The deflector plate assembly is pitched at an angle relative to the sprinkler body. A spider barrier disposed in engagement with the cap defines an enclosure over the at least one spider ingress opening. 
     The cap may include a lower ledge radially outward of the central opening, where the at least one spider ingress is provided in the lower ledge. The cap may also include an upper ledge radially outward of the lower ledge. The spider barrier may include an inner wall connected with an outer wall with a space in between. In this context, the inner wall may engage the lower ledge and the outer wall may engage the upper ledge such that the space between the inner and outer walls is positioned over the at least one spider ingress opening. The inner wall may be tapered to accommodate orbital motion of the deflector plate assembly. 
     The sprinkler may also include a sprinkler head cover positioned over the counterbalance weight and secured to the cap. In some embodiments, the cap may include an outer ledge radially outward of the upper ledge, where the sprinkler head cover is secured to the outer ledge. 
     The spider barrier may be substantially V-shaped in cross section. 
     The spider barrier may be sized and positioned to create a space while blocking access to moving parts of the sprinkler on a downstream side of the cap. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a sprinkler includes a sprinkler body having a longitudinal axis, a cap secured to or integral with the sprinkler body and including a central opening and at least one spider ingress opening positioned radially outward of the central opening, a nozzle, and a deflector plate assembly including a deflector plate at one end disposed facing the nozzle, a counterbalance weight disposed at an opposite end, and a spool assembly positioned in the central opening and disposed between the deflector plate and the counterbalance weight. A spider barrier may be disposed in engagement with the cap and may define an enclosure over the at least one spider ingress opening. The deflector plate assembly may be rotatable about a rotation axis, where the deflector plate assembly is supported in the sprinkler body such that the rotation axis is pitched relative to the longitudinal axis and such that the deflector plate assembly is configured to wobble about the longitudinal axis. The spider barrier may be shaped to accommodate the wobble of the deflector plate assembly about the longitudinal axis. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, a sprinkler includes a sprinkler body, a nozzle associated with one end of the sprinkler body, and a deflector plate assembly supported in the sprinkler body. The deflector plate assembly includes a deflector plate at an upstream end facing the nozzle and a counterbalance weight at a downstream end. At least one spider ingress opening is disposed adjacent the deflector plate assembly. A spider barrier defines an enclosure over the at least one spider ingress opening. The spider barrier is configured to permit spider ingress while preventing spider access or contact with parts of the deflector plate assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an assembled sprinkler head of a first embodiment; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are cross-sectional views of the sprinkler head of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  show a variation of the counterbalance weight; 
         FIGS. 6-10  are perspective views of various parts of the assembly; 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  show a variation of the counterbalance weight housing; 
         FIG. 13  shows an alternative embodiment of the sprinkler head; 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  are cross-sectional views of the sprinkler head of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIGS. 16-18  are perspective views of the  FIG. 13  sprinkler head components; 
         FIG. 19  shows a sprinkler head of an alternative embodiment for use on a drop tube; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the counterbalance weight housing from the sprinkler head shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIGS. 21-23  show a sprinkler head of another alternative embodiment; 
         FIGS. 24-26  show an alternative cap construction with a start-up rib or lip adjacent the cap central opening; 
         FIG. 27  shows a sprinkler head of an embodiment incorporating a spider barrier; 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the cap associated with the embodiment of  FIG. 27 ; and 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view of the spider barrier. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show a rigid mount orbiter sprinkler assembly  10  according to one embodiment. The assembly  10  is connectable to a source of water under pressure via an inlet  12 . The inlet  12  may be threaded or otherwise securely connected to the water source (not shown). Water flow is directed through a nozzle  14  secured in a sprinkler body  16 . A cap  18  is connected with the sprinkler body  16 , and a sprinkler head cover  20  is secured to the cap  18 . The cap  18  may be secured to the sprinkler body  16  in any suitable manner, which includes being formed integral with the sprinkler body  16 . In some embodiments, the cap  18  includes locking structure  19  (see  FIG. 6 ) for a twist lock or bayonet-type lock to complementary components on the sprinkler body  16 . The cap  18  may also include threads  21  for securing the sprinkler head cover  20 . The cap  18  may alternatively be secured to the body  16  with screws or the like (see e.g.,  FIG. 13 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2, 3 and 6-10 , a deflector plate assembly  22  is supported for rotation/spinning and orbital motion in a central opening  24  (see  FIG. 6 ) in the cap  18 . The deflector plate assembly  22  includes a deflector plate member  26  at an upstream end having a deflector plate  28  on an upstream side facing the nozzle  14  and a splined shaft  30  on a downstream side. As shown in more detail in  FIG. 7 , the deflector plate  28  of the deflector plate member  26  includes lands and grooves that are configured to disperse water impacting the deflector plate  28  in a predefined pattern and to impart rotation and orbital motion of the deflector plate assembly  22  by impact with the water stream. 
     The deflector plate assembly  22  also includes a spool assembly  32  supported in the central opening  24  of the cap  18 . The spool assembly includes an upstream spool shoulder  34  secured over the splined shaft  30  of the deflector plate member  26 . An upstream flange  36  is positioned adjacent the upstream spool shoulder  34 . A downstream spool shoulder  38  is connected to the splined shaft  30  by a bolt  40  or the like. A downstream flange  42  is positioned adjacent the downstream spool shoulder  38 . The flanges  36 ,  42  may be elastomer flanges and may be provided with lugs or splines to engage and rotate with the upstream  34  and downstream  38  spool shoulders. A bushing  44  engages the upstream  34  and downstream  38  spool shoulders and is interposed between the flanges  36 ,  42 . 
     The deflector plate assembly  22  also includes a counterbalance weight assembly  46  at a downstream end. The counterbalance weight assembly  46  includes a housing  48  secured to the downstream spool shoulder  38  and a counterbalance weight  50  disposed in the housing  48 . 
     As shown, the deflector plate assembly  22  is pitched at an angle relative to the sprinkler body  16 . The cover  20  may be provided with a pitch member  23  disposed facing the housing  48 . The housing  48  may be provided with a tab member  49  at a distal end. The pitch member  23  and the tab member  49  cooperate to maintain the deflector plate assembly  22  in the central opening  24  at the angle relative to the sprinkler body  16 . 
     Parts of the deflector plate assembly  22  are shown in  FIGS. 6-10 .  FIG. 8  shows the upstream spool shoulder  34 , which includes lugs  52  for engaging the splined shaft  30  of the deflector plate member  26 . As shown, the lugs  52  protrude (upwardly in  FIG. 8 ) to engage the bushing  44 . With reference to  FIG. 9 , the bushing  44  similarly includes lugs  54  for engaging the splined shaft  30  of the deflector plate member  26 . With reference to  FIG. 10 , the downstream spool shoulder  38  includes a shaft  56  that is splined generally corresponding to the splined shaft  30  of the deflector plate member  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the downstream spool shoulder  38  may be abutted against and aligned with the splined shaft  30 . Together, the splined shaft  30  and the shaft  56  of the downstream spool shoulder  38  define a spool shaft between the facing spool shoulders  34 ,  38 . Lugs  58  are provided around the shaft  56  and are positioned to engage the bushing  44  when assembled. In some embodiments, the upstream spool shoulder  34 , the downstream spool shoulder  38  and the bushing  44  are molded from hard plastic, and the upstream flange  36  and the downstream flange  42  are formed of an elastomer or other pliable material. When assembled, the bolt  40  compresses the components together with the bushing  44  engaged by the hard plastic lugs  52  and  58  of the respective upstream  34  and downstream  38  spool shoulders so as not to overly compress and distort the elastomer flanges  36 ,  42  while securing the flanges in place. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 , the cap  18  is provided with traction surfaces surrounding the central opening  24 . In particular, the traction surfaces may include traction bars  60  and debris pockets  62  interposed between the traction bars  60  and positioned circumferentially around the central opening  24  of the cap  18 . In use, the flanges  36 ,  42 , which are preferably formed of a soft elastomer material, engage the traction surfaces to facilitate rotation of the deflector plate assembly  22 . That is, the flanges  36 ,  42  are driven into engagement with the traction bars  60  for a secure grip. The debris pockets  62  serve to accumulate any debris such as sand or the like that may get into the spool assembly  32 . The accumulated debris in the debris pockets  62  will ultimately work its way out during use. 
     In operation, a water stream  64  is emitted from the nozzle  14  and impacts the deflector plate  28  of the deflector plate assembly  22 . As the water stream  64  impacts the deflector plate  28 , the deflector plate assembly  22  is caused to rotate or spin about its longitudinal axis or rotation axis  66  ( FIG. 3 ). Additionally, because the deflector plate assembly  22  is pitched relative to the sprinkler body by the spool assembly  32  supported in the central opening  24  of the cap  18 , the deflector plate assembly  22  is also caused to wobble by orbital motion around a central axis  68  of the spool assembly  32 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show a variation of the counterbalance weight assembly  46 ′. As shown, the counterbalance weight  50 ′ is displaceable in the housing  48  between a low-speed retracted position ( FIG. 4 ) and a high-speed extended position ( FIG. 5 ). A spring  51  is interposed between the counterbalance weight  50 ′ and the housing  48  and biases the counterbalance weight  50 ′ toward the low-speed retracted position. In use, as the orbital motion speed of the deflector plate assembly  22  increases (i.e., orbital motion or wobble about axis  68 ), the counterbalance weight  50 ′ is displaced toward the high-speed extended position against the force of the spring  51 . Deflection of the counterbalance weight  50 ′ will slow the orbital motion speed until the counterbalance weight  50 ′ reaches the high-speed extended position (adjacent an outermost wall of the housing  48  as shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show yet another variation of the counterbalance weight assembly  46 ″. In this variation, the housing  48 ′ is provided with fan blades  53 . The fan blades  53  act as dampers (e.g., air dampers) to slow the orbital motion of the deflector plate assembly  22  about axis  68 . 
       FIGS. 13-18  show a variation of the sprinkler head assembly  110 . In this embodiment, the sprinkler head cover  120  is secured on the cap  118  by screws  121  or the like. As would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, this variation may be similarly applicable to the previously-described embodiments. With reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the deflector plate assembly  122  includes a deflector plate member  126 , a spool assembly  132  supported in the cap  118 , and a counterbalance weight assembly  146 . An upstream spool shoulder  134  defines a shield member positioned on the splined shaft  130  of the deflector plate member  126  on a downstream side of the deflector plate  128 . The spool shoulder/shield member  134  includes a plurality of impeller blades/fingers  135 . The blades/fingers  135  may be curved in any orientation such that the blades/fingers  135  may act as air damping impellers for damping rotation speed about both axes  66 ,  68  or they may act as flingers to throw residual water or drool that would normally drip in a concentrated area below the sprinkler. In either orientation, the member  134  serves to reduce the amount of abrasive particles that may reach the wear areas of the spool assembly  132  when running in sandy water conditions or the like. Sandy water from adjacent sprinklers may be deflected away from the spool assembly  132 , and the blades  135  may be shaped to pull the abrasive particles and air into a hub area just above the deflector plate grooves. 
     The bushing  144  may be provided with a relieved area or circumferential indentation  145  in its outside diameter (see  FIG. 18 ). As shown, the indentation  145  may be provided in the center of the outside diameter of the bushing  144 . The relieved area  145  gives sand particles and the like a place to go without jamming the spool assembly  132 . Over time, debris build-up in the indentation  145  will slough off and out of the assembly due among other things to the orbital action of the deflector plate assembly  122 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13-18 , the tip angle of the deflector plate assembly  122  is reduced from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  (e.g., from 10° to) 7°, and the center of motion has been shifted closer to the nozzle  114 . A net effect of these adjustments is to reduce the generation of fine mist (that is blown away in the wind and becomes wasted water) and to reduce the magnitude of vibrations to thereby reduce wear on the spool components without sacrificing water distribution performance. As a result of the reduced vibration, the assembly can be balanced with less weight, which can significantly reduce manufacturing costs. 
       FIGS. 19 and 20  show an embodiment for use on a drop tube, where the assembly is inverted such that the counterbalance weight cover or housing  248  and the counterbalance weight  250  are bottommost relative to gravity. The housing  248  includes exterior fins  272  that taper outwardly from top to bottom. The fins  272  terminate at a circumferential lip  274  such that the fins  272  and lip  274  define compartments  276  around a periphery of the housing  248 . With this construction, the housing  248  acts as a flinger to catch drool and fling it away from the sprinkler rather than letting it drop in concentrated fashion directly below the unit. 
       FIGS. 21-23  show an embodiment with variations to prevent insects and spiders from making nests up inside the cover. It has been discovered that spider webs for example may stall the action of the sprinkler. In this embodiment, the cover  320  has an open design with cover arms  321  to be less likely to attract spiders and insects from nesting there. Additionally, with reference to  FIG. 22 , the spool assembly  332  is modified to improve wear life. Specifically, the upstream and downstream flanges are separately integrated with the bushing to define an upstream flange bushing  336  abutting the upstream spool shoulder  334  and a downstream flange bushing  342  abutting the downstream spool shoulder  338 . A separate bushing has been eliminated. Still further, as shown in  FIG. 23 , the deflector plate  328  is modified to reduce the amount of fine mist generated, add some larger droplets and increase the radius of throw. Specifically, as compared to the deflector plates of the previously-described embodiments, deflector plate  328  has fewer, but wider grooves for channeling the water, and the grooves in deflector plate  328  are elongated vertically (or axially) so the water stream is turned less abruptly as it is turned vertically. 
       FIGS. 24-26  show an embodiment with a modified cap  418  incorporating a start-up rib or lip  425  adjacent an inside diameter of the central opening  424 .  FIG. 25  shows the modified cap  418  incorporated into the  FIGS. 21-23  embodiment in a start-up position in which the downstream flange bushing  342  of the spool assembly  332  engages the rib or lip  425 , and there is a clearance between a radially outward portion of the downstream flange bushing  342  and the traction bars  460  and debris pockets  462 .  FIG. 26  shows an operating position in which the downstream flange bushing  342  engages the traction bars  460  and debris pockets  462  with a clearance over the rib or lip  425 . The rib or lip  425  improves start-up reliability, especially with small nozzles. The upstanding rib or lip  425  enables the spool assembly  332  to move more freely at start-up ( FIG. 25 ), then is not contacted in the operating mode ( FIG. 26 ). 
       FIGS. 27-29  show an embodiment incorporating a spider barrier that in combination with structure surrounding the deflector plate assembly permits inevitable spider ingress while preventing spider access or contact with moving parts of the sprinkler above the cap central opening, i.e., downstream of the central opening (relative to the direction of water flow). The barrier/enclosure construction may also be effective for insects, and the structure is not meant to be limited to its application to spiders. As shown, the sprinkler head assembly  510 , like previous embodiments, includes a sprinkler body  516 , a nozzle  514  associated with one end of the sprinkler body  516 , and a cap  518  secured to or integral with an opposite end of the sprinkler body  516 . The cap  518  may also include locking structure  519  for a twist lock or bayonet-type lock to complementary components on the sprinkler body  516 . A sprinkler head cover  520  is secured to the cap  518 . 
     The cap  518  includes a central opening  524 , and a deflector plate assembly  522  is supported for rotation/spinning and orbital motion in the central opening  524 . Also like previous embodiments, the deflector plate assembly  522  includes a deflector plate  528  at an upstream end facing the nozzle  514 , a spool assembly  532  positioned in the central opening  524  of the cap  518 , and a counterbalance weight  546  at a downstream end. The sprinkler head cover  520  is positioned over the counterbalance weight  546  and secured to the cap  518 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 27-29 , with particular reference to  FIGS. 27 and 28 , the cap  518 , which includes traction bars  560  and debris pockets  562 , includes a lower ledge  578  radially outward of the central opening  524  and an upper ledge  580  radially outward of the lower ledge  578 . The cap  518  also includes one or more spider ingress openings  572  in the lower ledge  578 . As shown, in a preferred construction, the cap  518  includes three spider ingress openings  572 . The cap is also provided with an outer ledge  582  radially outward of the upper ledge  580 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 27 , the sprinkler head cover  520  is secured to the outer ledge  582 , preferably by connectors or the like through integrated connector openings  583  in the cap  518 . 
     A spider barrier  570  is disposed in engagement with the cap  518  and defines an enclosure over the one or more spider ingress openings  572 . With reference to  FIGS. 27 and 29 , the spider barrier  570  includes an inner circumferential wall  584  connected with an outer circumferential wall  586  with a space  588  in between. The inner wall  584  of the spider barrier  570  may engage the lower ledge  578  of the cap  518 , and the outer wall  586  of the spider barrier  570  may engage the upper ledge  580  such that the space  588  between the inner and outer walls is positioned over the one or more spider ingress openings  572 . As shown, the inner wall  584  may be tapered to accommodate the orbital motion of the deflector plate assembly  522 . The spider barrier  570  may be substantially V-shaped in cross section. 
     The spider barrier  570  is thus sized and positioned to create a space for spider ingress while blocking access to moving parts of the sprinkler above the central opening  524 . 
     The assembly shown in  FIGS. 27-29  creates an enticing refuge, particularly for spiders, away from the moving parts above the central opening. The spider barrier in cooperation with the spider ingress openings serves to permit spider ingress while preventing spider access or contact with moving parts of the sprinkler above the central opening. Once inhabited, the resident spiders can chase off other potential interlopers that might otherwise be tempted to make a nest near any of the moving parts, which as noted above, could cause stalling. 
     The sprinkler assembly of the described embodiments provides an evenly-dispersed water pattern coupling rotation and orbital motion and may be rigidly mounted on a center pivot or other support structure. The assembly minimizes vibration, wear and drool while its construction reduces manufacturing costs. In an embodiment, the assembly accommodates spider ingress while preventing spider access to important moving parts. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.