Patent Abstract:
In one embodiment, a sprinkler valve includes an actuator member that is rotatably disposed within a sprinkler head and restricted from vertical movement. The inside of the actuator member includes a helical groove within an inner cavity. A plunger at least partially fits within the actuator member&#39;s inner cavity and further includes a thread that mates with the helical groove of the actuator member. As the actuator member is rotated by a user, its helical groove causes the plunger to move downwards toward the top of a tube or water passage. If fully extended downward, the flat portion of the plunger fully covers and seals the top of the tube, preventing water from escaping from the sprinkler.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/508,462 filed Jul. 15, 2011 entitled Flow Shut-Off Valve for Sprinkler, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Flow shut-off at the top of a sprinkler head is rapidly becoming a standard feature in high-end rotating sprinklers. Flow shut-off allows contractors to selectively shut off water flow at any sprinkler head in a watering zone. This feature is particularly useful for installing new sprinkler nozzles in each sprinkler since a contractor can shut off the water flow at a sprinkler head, change the nozzle, and turn the head back on. In this respect, the contractor does not need to travel to the remote central irrigation controller, shut down irrigation at a particular zone, travel to the zone and replace a sprinkler nozzle, then travel back to the central controller to turn the zone back on. 
         [0003]    Another benefit heralded by installers and contractors is the ability to selectively shut-off multiple sprinklers in a zone to prevent a construction zone from getting sprayed. Typically, with a standard sprinkler, the whole zone would be shut down at the controller. This risks drying out and killing landscaping that is not near or associated with the construction zone. 
         [0004]    Prior art sprinkler flow shut-off valves can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,869,026; 5,762,270; 6,802,458 and 7,793,868; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    One embodiment according to the present invention is directed to a flow shut-off valve for a sprinkler that includes an actuator member that is rotatably disposed within a sprinkler head and restricted from vertical movement. The inside of the actuator member includes a helical groove within an inner cavity. A plunger at least partially fits within the actuator member&#39;s inner cavity and further includes a thread that mates with the helical groove of the actuator member. As the actuator member is rotated by a user (e.g., via a tool from the top of the sprinkler), its helical groove causes the plunger to move downwards toward the top of a tube or water passage. If fully extended downward, the flat portion of the plunger fully covers and seals the top of the tube, preventing water from escaping from the sprinkler. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partial cross section view of a sprinkler according to the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partial cross section view of a partially opened valve of the sprinkler in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section view of a partially opened valve of the sprinkler in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a partial cross section view of a closed valve of the sprinkler in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section view of a closed valve of the sprinkler in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a partial cross section view of an opened valve of the sprinkler in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section view of a keyed valve plunger passage according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a plunger according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  illustrates a cross section view of an actuator according to the present invention; and, 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a plunger according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-9  illustrate various views and components of a flow shut-off valve  110  for a sprinkler  100  according to the present invention. The flow shut-off valve  110  includes an actuator  112  that, when rotated, moves a valve plunger  116  vertically to open or close a water passage within the sprinkler  100 . 
         [0019]    While the present flow shut-off valve  110  can be used in a variety of different irrigation sprinklers, it is depicted in a rotary sprinkler. As seen in  FIG. 1 , rotary sprinklers typically have a main body portion  102  that “pops up” during irrigation and a rotating nozzle base  104  that houses the nozzle  106 . A water-driven transmission system in the body portion  102  drives the rotation of the nozzle base  104 . 
         [0020]    As best seen in  FIGS. 2-6 , the actuator  112  (also referred to as an adjustment member) is preferably positioned such that a top surface is exposed and accessible to the outside of the sprinkler  100 , such as at a top portion of the nozzle base  104 . This top actuator surface preferably has a shaped or grooved surface  112 A to allow engagement and rotation with a tool, such as a screw driver. 
         [0021]    A lower portion of the actuator  112  includes a lip  112 D that engages a mating portion of the sprinkler  100 . In this respect, the actuator can freely rotate in the sprinkler body, but is unable to move vertically. A seal  122  or o-ring is located under the lip  112 D to prevent dirt and water from entering or exiting from this area. 
         [0022]    As seen best in  FIGS. 2-6  and  9 , the actuator  112  has an elongated, interior compartment  1128  that extends substantially along the length of the actuator  112  to an opening on its lower end. The interior surface of the actuator&#39;s compartment is preferably shaped with a helical groove  112 C or spiral thread depression. 
         [0023]    The valve plunger  116  (seen best in  FIGS. 2-6  and  8 ) preferably has a generally cylindrical, elongated shape and a lower, disk-shaped member  116 C. An outer surface of the cylindrical portion preferably includes a raised thread  116 A. The cylinder diameter of the body of the plunger  116  and its thread  116 A are sized and shaped such that they fit into the compartment  1128  of the actuator  112  and mate with the actuator&#39;s helical groove  112 C. 
         [0024]    The disk portion  116 C includes a seal  116 E or o-ring around its outer circumference and is sized to close off a top opening of a water passage formed by tubular member  118 . Hence, when the disk portion  116 C is moved into contact with the top surface of the tubular member  118 , it closes off the water passage and prevents water from reaching the nozzle  106  or exit aperture of the sprinkler  100 . 
         [0025]    The bottom of the disk portion  116 C also includes a flow conditioning fin  116 D for reducing turbulence in the water flow passing through. Preferably, the fin  116 D is fixed to the disk portion  116 C in an orientation that is longitudinally aligned with the general direction of water flow . For example, as seen in  FIG. 6 , the fin  116 D is aligned towards the nozzle  106  (i.e., a vector along the length of the fin  116 D intersects the nozzle  106 ). 
         [0026]    The fin  116 D may be formed in a variety of shapes that are generally shaped to reduce turbulence. For example, the fin shape may be uniformly rounded, asymmetrically rounded, square or rectangle. 
         [0027]    As best seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  8 , the valve plunger  116  preferably includes two “key” features. Specifically, the cylindrical portion of the plunger has two vertical grooves  116 B extending along its length. An area  114  of the sprinkler surrounding the valve plunger  166  includes a rectangular “key”  114 A (seen best in  FIG. 7 ) that mates with the groove  116 B of the plunger  116 . In this respect, the plunger  116  is prevented from rotation but is free to move vertically. 
         [0028]    As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 8 , the disk portion  116 C of the plunger  116  includes a lip  116 G for preventing the plunger  116  from moving too far into the tubular member  118  and disengaging with the actuator member  112 . In the present example, the lip  116 G extends radially outward in only a single area or radial section from the body of the disk  116 E. Alternately, the lip  116 G may symmetrically extend out from the main body of the disk  116 E (i.e., around the circumference of the disk  116 E), allowing the lip  116  to contact the entire circumferential top surface of the tubular member  118 . 
         [0029]    In operation, a tool (e.g., screw driver) can be used to rotate the actuator member  112 . As the actuator member  112  rotates, it maintains its vertical position relative to the nozzle base  104  of the sprinkler  100 . The rotating helical groove  112 C exerts force on the threads  166 A of the valve plunger  166 . Since the valve plunger  166  is “keyed” to prevented from rotation (via groove  1168  and key  114 B), the plunger  116  moves vertically, depending on the direction of rotation of the actuator  112 . Hence, the user can adjust the valve plunger  166  to a fully open position ( FIG. 5 ), fully closed position ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) or any position in between ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0030]    One advantage of this design is that the valve  110  can be partially closed. Such a partial valve closure allows a user to reduce the amount of water that exits the sprinkler  100 . Additionally, partial closure can reduce the distance the water is thrown from the sprinkler (i.e., the sprinkler&#39;s water radius). Many prior art sprinklers rely solely on a “break-up” screw  120  to reduce a sprinkler&#39;s radius by moving the screw  120  into the path of outgoing water. However, these break-up screws do not limit the sprinkler&#39;s flow rate and therefore can lead to overwatering in areas of turf nearby to the sprinkler. In contrast, partial closure of the present valve mechanism can reduce the flow rate and watering radius of a sprinkler, decreasing the risk of overwatering nearby turf. 
         [0031]    A test was performed by the inventor to compare radius reduction solely via a break-up screw with radius reduction via a sprinkler valve according to the present invention. Both sprinklers were tested using similar nozzle sizes and water pressure. The resulting data is summarized in Table 1 below. As seen in this table, a 25% reduction in radius via the break-up screw resulted in an increased precipitation rate of 0.26 inches/hour with sprinklers in what is known in the art as a “square spacing” and 0.34 inches/hour in what is known in the art as a “triangular spacing”. In contrast, a 25% reduction in radius via the example valve  110  according to the present invention resulted in only a 0.09 inches/hour precipitation increase in both spacings. Hence, the example valve  110  was better able to limit any precipitation increase when the radius is reduced. Additionally, what is known in the art as a “scheduling coefficient” or more simply the uniformity or efficiency of water flow, increases (i.e., becomes less efficient/uniform) with a prior art breakup (from 1.2 to 1.7) but remains constant at 1.4 for the present invention. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Square 
                   
                 Triangular 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Spacing 
                   
                 Spacing 
               
               
                   
                 Nozzle 
                   
                   
                   
                 Precip 
                   
                 Precip 
               
               
                   
                 Diameter 
                 Pressure 
                 Radius 
                 Flow 
                 Rate 
                 Scheduling 
                 Rate 
               
               
                   
                 (mm) 
                 (psi) 
                 (ft) 
                 (gpm) 
                 (in/hr) 
                 Coefficient 
                 (in/hr) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Prior Art 
                 3.0 
                 45 
                 40 
                 3.30 
                 0.40 
                 1.2 
                 0.46 
               
               
                 Sprinkler: 
               
               
                 Unreduced 
               
               
                 Radius 
               
               
                 Prior Art 
                 3.0 
                 45 
                 30 
                 3.24 
                 0.69 
                 1.7 
                 0.80 
               
               
                 Sprinkler: 
               
               
                 Radius 
               
               
                 Reduced 
               
               
                 25% w/ 
               
               
                 Break Up 
               
               
                 Screw 
               
               
                 Example 
                 3.0 
                 45 
                 40 
                 3.35 
                 0.40 
                 1.4 
                 0.47 
               
               
                 Invention: 
               
               
                 Unreduced 
               
               
                 Example 
                 3.0 
                 45 
                 31 
                 2.43 
                 0.49 
                 1.4 
                 0.56 
               
               
                 Invention: 
               
               
                 Radius 
               
               
                 Reduced 
               
               
                 25% w/ 
               
               
                 valve 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0032]      FIG. 10  illustrates an alternate embodiment of a valve plunger  150  that includes similar threads  150 A and channel  150 B to the previously described plunger  116 . However, the valve plunger  150  includes a partially spherical or ball-shaped portion  150 C instead of a lower disk portion. This rounded shape may eliminate the need for using a seal or o-ring on the lower portion of the plunger  150 . 
         [0033]    While the previous embodiments show a mechanism in which the shut-off valve is closed when a plunger is in the lowest position, it should be recognized that an alternate arrangement is possible. Namely, the shut-off valve may be modified such that raising the plunger to an upper position causes it to seal against a valve seat and lowering the plunger causes the plunger to unseal and allow passage of water. 
         [0034]    Additional modifications of the actuator mechanism are also possible. For example, the actuator/plunger threads  112 C/ 116 A may be reversed or inverted such that the actuator  112  has a male thread and the plunger  116  includes a female thread. A similar switch is possible with the “key” arrangement of the plunger and sprinkler. 
         [0035]    Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1