Abstract:
The combination of a case enclosed sprinkler and shut-off valve having the dual function of shutting off the flow of water to a case enclosed sprinkler so that case enclosed sprinkler can be removed from the case enclosed sprinkler system or zone for replacement, repair, maintenance and the like and the insertion and removal of the case enclosed sprinkler operates to open and close the shut-off valve. The shut-off valve has infinite settings so that it can be utilized as a metering valve to limit the flow of water entering the case enclosed sprinkler. In another embodiment, an adapter mechanism can be utilized in combination with the shut-off valve to obtain water from the system when desired.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to valve mechanism and more particularly to a shut-off valve for an in-ground sprinkler system that is typically utilized to water or irrigate lawns and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As is well known to those skilled in the irrigation system technology, sprinkler systems as utilized to irrigate and water lawns, golf courses, athletic fields, and the like and comprise typically in-ground sprinklers that are of the type that are embedded into the ground and pop-up when deployed or rest above the ground and are connected to a water source and are grouped in zones. Typically, an activating system automatically turns the system on and water is directed to one or more zones that comprise a plurality of individual sprinklers. As is well known in the repair or maintenance of each of the sprinklers, the operator has to either work on an individual sprinkler in a given zone with the water on or alternatively, shut-off the system in that zone in order to repair or maintain or replace an individual sprinkler. Obviously, shutting off the water by turning the system or zone on and off is cumbersome and time consuming since the controls are usually remote from the sprinkler being worked on and requires several trips to the remotely mounted shut-off control or valve. At times, two people are required to perform this function, one for controlling the on/off of the water and the other doing the repair. 
     I have found that I can obviate this problem noted in the immediate above paragraphs, by including a valve at each of the sprinklers and by virtue of and in accordance with this invention the removal of the sprinkler or sprinkler head turns the valve to the closed position and the insertion of the sprinkler or sprinkler head turns the valve to the on position. Thus, the operator merely has to remove the sprinkler while the system is in the “on” position and while water is flowing to the sprinklers in the zone and the valve of my invention will turn the water off of that individual sprinkler so that the repair, replacement or maintenance can be performed. After the work is completed the sprinkler is returned and screwed into the shut-off valve which is attached to the piping and the shut-off valve of my invention is automatically turned on. 
     An option that is provided with the shut-off valve is that since the shut-off valve has infinite positions and hence, can change the flow area, the shut-off valve can be utilized as a metering valve to limit the amount of water flow into the sprinkler and hence, in a sense, control the flow out of the sprinkler. This affords the advantage of regulating the output of the sprinkler where in situations the throw of the water emitted from the sprinkler is further than is desired and needs to be shortened. This is accomplished by adjusting the shut-off valve to a position that is less than full opened. 
     An adapter is contemplated by this invention which serves to turn on and off the sprinkler and can be utilized to provide water at the cite where it be used for cleaning purposes or to connect a hose thereto to provide water in nearby locations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a valve mounted to the sprinkler in the water line that is capable of shutting off the flow of water when the sprinkler is removed and allowing the flow of water water when the sprinkler is inserted into the line via the shut-off valve. 
     A feature of this invention is the combination of a sprinkler and shut-off valve where the shut off valve includes infinite settings to vary the flow area to limit the flow of water being delivered to the sprinkler. 
     Another feature of this invention is the design of the shut-off valve so that it is utilized in an in-line water line that permits the flow of water to sprinklers mounted downstream thereof or where the shut-off valve is mounted on an individual sprinkler that does not flow water to a downstream sprinkler. 
     Another feature of this invention is to provide an adapter and shut-off valve combination that shuts-off the flow of water when mounted in the place of a sprinkler and opens the shut-off valve to provide the flow of water for uses other than the normal sprinkling systems&#39;s use. 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a full view in elevation showing a closed-encased sprinkler mounted in a sprinkler system incorporating this invention; 
     FIG. 2 a  us a view in elevation and partly in section of the sprinkler system depicted in FIG. 1 with the shut-off valve in the opened position; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a partial view in section of the shut-off valve of this invention in the opened position; 
     FIG. 3 a  is a view in elevation and partly in section of the sprinkler depicted in FIG. 1 with the shut-off valve in the closed position; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a partial view in section of the shut-off valve in the closed position; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic view in perspective illustrating a zone in a sprinkler system employing the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view partly in section illustrating this invention in a series connection in a sprinkler system with the shut-off valve in the opened position; 
     FIG. 6 is a view identical to the valve of this invention depicted in FIG. 5 with the shut-off valve in the closed position; 
     FIG. 7 a  is a schematic view of the shut-off valve of this invention illustrating the stops for shutting and opening the valve when the sprinkler is removed or installed; 
     FIG. 7 b  is identical to the schematic depicted in FIG. 7 a  where the rotation of the sprinkler is turned in the opposite direction; 
     FIG. 8 is a view in elevation and partly in section and partly exploded exemplifying another embodiment of this invention consisting of the combination of an adaptor and shut-of valve utilized in the sprinkler system to flow water for purposes other than the purpose of the sprinkler system; 
     FIG. 9 is a view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8 with the unit assembled and the clutch of the adaptor being disengaged; 
     FIG. 10 is view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8 with the clutch being engaged and the shut-off valve being in the opened position; 
     FIG. 11 is a view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8 with the adapter rotating the shut-off valve to the closed position; and 
     FIG. 12 is a view partly in schematic and partly in perspective illustrating the adaptor/shut-off valve configuration assembled in a sprinkler system. 
     These figures merely serve to further clarify and illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While this invention is described utilizing a pop-up type of sprinkler as will be understood by those skilled in this technology, this invention has utility with most of the other types of sprinklers which include those manufactured by The Toro Company, K-Rain Manufacturing Corporation, Rainbird and others. In general, the oscillating sprinklers are closed encased with an oscillating pop-up member that oscillates by either gearing to reverse the direction of the sprinkler or stators that reverse the direction of the sprinklers, and the pop-up type of sprinkler (non-oscillating) merely is deployed to extend from the casing when it is used to irrigate. As one skilled in this art will appreciate, this invention can also be utilized with the type of sprinkler that is mounted so that it extends beyond the ground without the capability of being deployed. The significance of this invention is the ability to shut-off the water flow from a sprinkler to allow a worker to perform maintenance or the removal of the sprinkler without having to shut-off the entire system or a zone of the system. In another embodiment of this invention, an adapter mechanism in combination with the shut-off valve connects to the pipe so as to be capable of providing water through the shut-off valve for use for other purposes. 
     As used herein sprinklers, whether of the pop-up, oscillating, gear driven or stator driven and the like are referred to herein as case-enclosed sprinklers or sprinklers. The sprinklers to which this invention is of particular importance is sprinklers that are installed in a sprinkler system that may or may not include zones. 
     The invention is best understood by referring to FIGS. 1-7 that show a closed-encased sprinkler generally illustrated by reference numeral  10  mounted in the ground and attached to the threaded member  12  of shut-off valve  14 . The sprinkler  10  includes a pop-up member  16  that extends beyond the surface of the ground when deployed and is typically spring-loaded in the retracted position and the pressure of the water forces the pop-up member in the extended position when the water is turned on. Shut-off valve  14  includes suitable fittings to connect to the sprinkler  10  and the pipe  18  of the sprinkler system which may be one of a plurality of sprinklers connected to pipe  18  to constitute a zone of the system or in a smaller installation only a single zone would be utilized. 
     As seen in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , shut-off valve  14  includes a main housing  20  that includes the threaded portion  22  that attaches to the complementary threads  24  formed at the end of pipe  18 . The shut-off valve  14  includes a rotary valve portion  26  configured in a spherical or hollow ball shape that is rotatably mounted in the complementary shaped cavity  28  defined by housing  20 . The hollow stem  30  extends from the valve portion  26  through the bore  28  formed in boss  32  of housing  20  and carries a threaded portion  34  that engages the complementary threaded portion  36  formed on the bottom end of the sprinkler. The hollow central portion of valve stem  30  aligns with the sprinkler so as to be in fluid communication therewith when the shut-off valve is positioned open. According to this invention, the valve stem  30  includes flange  41  that carries a downwardly extending lug portion  38  that defines shoulder  40  that includes a face  42  (FIG. 1) and shoulder  44  that includes face  46  (FIG. 6) that engage the opposite ends of the stop member or projection  50  that projects outwardly from the housing  20 . Stop member  50  carries opposite edges  52  and  54  that serve to stop the rotation of the valve stem  20  as will be described in further detail hereinbelow. 
     As is apparent from the foregoing, when the valve stem  30  is rotated in one direction, say clockwise, the face  42  of the shoulder  40  (FIG. 1) will abut against face  54  of stop member  50  to prevent further rotation of the valve stem  30 . In this position the valve portion  26  is oriented so that the aperture  60  aligns with the pipe or tubing  18  to flow water (arrow A) into the sprinkler. Rotation of valve stem  30  in the opposite direction (counter clockwise) rotates aperture  60  out of alignment with the pipe  18  and obviously, shuts-off the flow of water from the sprinkler. In accordance with this invention, it also becomes apparent that since the sprinkler  10  is affixed to the valve stem  30  via the complementary threads  34  and  36 , rotation of the sprinkler casing  62  which carries the threads  36  via the depending leg  64  will cause the valve stem  30  to rotate the valve member  26  to either shut-off or turn on the flow of water. Further rotation of the sprinkler casing  62 , which is relative to the now stationary valve stem  30 , will remove the disengaged the threads  36  from the threads  34  for removal of the sprinkler. Obviously, rotation of the sprinkler casing  62  in the counterclockwise direction serves to provide the dual function of rotating the valve portion  26  to shut-off the flow of water and permit the removal of the sprinkler  10 . Likewise, inserting the sprinkler to rethread it back to the assembled condition, the sprinkler casing would be rotated in the clockwise direction. Once the sprinkler is threaded to allow the torque occasioned by the rotation of the sprinkler casing  62  to overcome the friction of the valve member  26 , the continuing of the rotation of the sprinkler casing  62  will cause the valve stem  30  to rotate to, in turn, rotate the valve member  26  so that aperture  60  aligns with the tubing  18  to return the flow of water to the sprinkler  10 . Hence, simply by rotating the sprinkler housing  62  to either the clockwise or counterclockwise directions serves to install the sprinkler to the sprinkler system and align the shut-off valve to permit flow of water to the sprinkler and conversely, serves to remove the sprinkler and shut-off the flow of water from the sprinkler. Obviously, the installation can be designed where the reverse is true, namely clockwise rotation will remove the sprinkler and counterclockwise rotation will assemble the sprinkler. 
     FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b  best illustrate the stop mechanism of this invention. When the valve stem  30  is rotated clockwise (FIG. 7 a ) the face  42  abuts against the edge  54  of the stop member  50  and when the stem is rotated counterclockwise the face  46  abuts against the edge  52  of stop member  50  (FIG. 7 b ). 
     In a commercially available sprinkler systems or zone(s) of commercially available sprinkler systems, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, optionally, each of a plurality of commercially available sprinklers are connected to the commercially available pipes  18  via the shut-off valve  14  of this invention. Obviously, the sprinklers that are connected to the pipe  18  are mounted in series so that the shut-off of flow from an upstream sprinkler would also shut-off the flow of water to a downstream sprinkler. As best seen in FIG. 4, the sprinkler system or zone may also be connected in parallel as shown by the short pipe  18  or the sprinkler my be connected by using the commercially available funny connector  66 . The funny connector  66  is merely a flexible tube with adequate commercially available fittings that interconnects the pipe  18  to the sprinkler  10 . Similar to the connections shown in the installation of the sprinklers  10  connected to pipe  18 , the sprinkler  10  connected to the funny connector  66  could also be mounted to the shut-off valve of this invention and would operate in the same manner as was described above. As one skilled in this art will appreciate, for the sake of economy a single shut-off valve could be utilized to shut off the flow of water instead of a number of sprinklers mounted in proximity to the sprinkler that includes the shut off valve. Hence, the operator merely has to shut-off the upstream sprinkler and this will shut-off the downstream sprinklers allowing the operator to work on any of the downstream sprinklers. 
     FIGS. 2 a ,  2   b ,  3   a  and  3   b  illustrate an embodiment where the sprinkler is at an end in a series of sprinklers or is connected to a funny connector. FIG. 5 illustrate an embodiment where the sprinkler is connected in line so as to deliver water to a downstream mounted sprinkler. In this embodiment, valve member  26   a  is formed with a pair of apertures  60   a  and  60   b  to flow the water through the hollow valve member  26   a . FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 where the valve member  26   a  is in the shut-off position. (The same reference numerals depict the same or similar parts in all of the Figs.) 
     FIGS. 8-12 illustrate the embodiment of the combined adapter mechanism and shut-off valve so that the removed sprinkler from a shut-off valve can be utilized for other purposes. Adapter mechanism generally illustrated by reference numeral  70  includes an upper cylindrically shaped hollow member  72  that rotatably supports the hollow cylindrical fitting  74 . The inner diameter at the bottom end is threaded to engage the threads  76  formed on the upper end of the bottom cylindrically shaped hollow member  78 . The depending leg  80  includes inner threads (not shown) similar to the member  64  (FIGS. 1 and 2) that engage the complementary threads  34  of stem  30 . Tangs  82  extending upwardly from the peripheral surface of member  78  engages the detentes  84  formed in the bottom peripheral surface of member  72 . Hence, when the unit is assembled and placed in operating position as the upper member  72  is screwed downwardly and the upper member  72  and lower member  78  become attached and then, the entire unit rotates and the threads in leg  40  are threadedly engaged with the threads  36  of stem  30 . Continual rotation will cause the shut-off valve  14  to operate in the same manner as was described in connection with the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-7. A hose  86  can be coupled to the extension hollow member  88  via fitting  90  and the operator can turn the shut-off valve on and off obtain water or stop the flow of water. In this instance the worker may want to clean the parts of the sprinkler or alternatively the hose can be used to irrigate other areas, if desired. This is clearly depicted in FIG. 12 where the adapter mechanism  70  is connected to the shut-off valve  14  in the sprinkler system. 
     What has been shown by this invention is a simple and inexpensive shut-off valve adapted to be used in a sprinkler system so that individual sprinklers can be removed without shutting-off the flow of water to the entire system or zone in a system. The shut-off valve can be utilized with other fittings so that water can be obtained from a displaced sprinkler. It will be understood that while the invention did not include seals for the shut-off valve it is within the skill of an ordinary skilled person to include seals if leakage in the shut-off valve is a problem. Also, while the invention described in its preferred embodiment the stops being mounted on the outside of the shut-off valve housing, it also, is within the skill of an ordinary artisan to place the stop mechanism inside the shut-off valve housing. Moreover, valves other than the spherical valve depicted in the preferred embodiment can be utilized for the shut-off function. As for example, and not to be deemed a limitation, a butterfly valve can be substituted for the spherical ball valve. 
     Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to detailed embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.