Improvements in Lawn Sprinklers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 29th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
TION
Improvements in Lawn Sprinklers.
I, CHARLES ANDERSON, of Detroit, in the County of Wayne, and State of
Michigan, United States of America, Supd., do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in lawn-sprinklers, and
has for its object, more especially, a sprinkler for distributing the water in the form
of spray upon the lawn, the sprinkler being operated by water pressure.
It is also the object of my invention to provide an improved sprinkler whereby
the water may be sprayed either in a circle or only at one side, as in the form of a
half-circle, the device being arranged so that the water may be sprayed on either
side desired, alone, or upon both sides as may be desired.
To these ends my invention consists of the combination of devices and appliances
hereinafter specified and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which-
Figure 1 is a vertical section, showing the blades and spindle in elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan view.
Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the sprinkler engaged with an improved
support and
Figure 4 is a vertical section showing a modification of my invention, the blades
being shown in side elevation.
My invention is designed to provide an improved sprinkler of superior simplicity
and economy of construction, which shall be at the same time less liable to get out
of order and of greater efficiency than similar devices heretofore in use.
I carry out my invention as follows:-
In the drawings A denotes a suitable casing provided with an attaching arm A'
whereby the sprinkler is engaged with a hose B. The top of the casing A is
provided with openings indicated at "a." I have shown four of such openings in
Figure 2, but any suitable number of such openings may be employed, as may be
desired.
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A² denotes an interior diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing A into two
chambers A and A', openings a communicating with each of said chambers.
In Figure 2 the diaphragm is shown by dotted lines.
The diaphragm A' is constructed with an orifice as at a¹, communication through
which is controlled by a valve or screw a³, extending to the exterior of the casing A.
It will be perceived that when the orifice a¹ is opened, water will pass out of the
hose into both of the chambers A3 and A4, and will thence pass outward through
the orifices" a "in the top of the casing and against the rotatable blades "C","
whereby the water will be sprinkled in a circle upon the lawn. Should the valve a²
however, be closed, the water would pass from the hose only into the chamber A³
rD77

page_text: and would strike upon only one side of the blades "C" and would therefore sprinkle
only upon one side of the casing A, as in the form of a half circle.
The blades "C" are preferably four in number, of suitable form to be propelled
and rotated by the pressure of the water striking against their under surfaces,
either when the water is emitted from both chambers A³ and A', or from only one
of said chambers. The blades are rotatably mounted upon a stem "c" engaged
in the top of the casing A. In the form shown in Figure 1, it will be evident that
when the water is closed off from the chamber A, the water would be sprinkled
on the opposite side of the diaphragm A' or on the side of the arm A¹.
With a
sprinkler of this construction, should it be desired to sprinkle the lawn in the
opposite direction, it would only be necessary to turn the sprinkler about,.the
arm A being located upon the opposite side of that shown in Figure 1. This
could readily be done by simply taking hold of the hose and turning it about in
the opposite direction. In Figure 4, however, I have shown a modification in the
construction of the sprinkler whereby water may be discharged on either side
without the necessity of moving the hose. This may be accomplished by the
provision of the additional diaphragm A' in the chamber A³ formed with an
opening a³ controlled by a valve or screw at reaching to the exterior of the
casing.
With a sprinkler as illustrated in Figure 4, should it be desired to sprinkle the
lawn upon only the side of the arm A, the valve a² would be closed and
the valve a opened. Should it be desired to sprinkle only on the side opposite the
arm A¹, the valve a² would be opened and the valve at would be closed. Obviously
the adjustment of the valve a², where a single valve is employed, or of the valves a³
and a', when two valves are employed, is a very simple matter and there is no
liability, whatsoever, of the device getting out of order.
With the construction illustrated in Figure 4, should it be desired to sprinkle
the lawn in the form of a circle, both of the valves or screws would be opened.
I do not limit myself, to any particular construction of the rotatable blades C.
D is a stem, whereby the sprinkler may be fastened in place upon the lawn.
A further object of my invention is to provide a novel support for the sprinkler,
which I have shown in Figure 3. The support consists, essentially, of a central
hub E made to receive the spindle D and provided with a set screw "d" to hold
the spindle in place. Connected with the hub are radial arms D' provided with
casters d' at their outer extremities. The arms D₁ are made of suitable length to
prevent any liability of tipping over in changing its position. The sprinkler being
thus mounted upon the support, above described, may readily be changed in position
by simply taking hold of the hose and pulling the sprinkler to any desired point
without the necessity of shutting off the water. With such a support, the sprinkler
can be readily and conveniently moved from place to place without the liability of
the operator being wet or being obliged to shut off the water.
My improved sprinkler may, however, be used with or without the improved
support herein shown and described.
To prevent the valves becoming disconnected from the casing, and thus being
liable to be lost, the adjacent portion of the casing may be kerfed and upset toward
the stem of the valve as shown more particularly in Figure at a³.
It will be seen that the rotatable blades are centrally mounted on the top of the
casing A and their position needs no changing to throw the water to one side alone,
or the other, as may be desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a lawn sprinkler, the casing communicating with the water supply and
constructed with outlet orifices, the diaphragm located within the casing and
dividing the interior of the casing into communicating chambers, and the valve to
control said communications, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. In a lawn-sprinkler, the combination of the perforated casing, the rotatable
blades connected therewith, a diaphragm located within the casing provided with
an orifice dividing the interior of the casing into chambers communicating through
said orifice, and the valve to control said orifice, substantially as described.
3. In a lawn-sprinkler, the combination of the casing, rotatable blades mounted
on a supporting stem engaged upon said casing, a diaphragm dividing the interior
of the casing into communicating chambers, a valve to control said communications,
and the support for the casing, said casing provided with outlet orifices opening
into said chamber beneath said blades, substantially as set forth.
4. In a lawn-sprinkler, the combination of the casing provided with outlet
orifices, a diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into communicating
chambers having independent orifices, a valve to control said communication, means
to hold said valve from displacement, and rotatable blades mounted upon said casing
above said outlet orifices, substantially as set forth.
5. In a lawn-sprinkler, the casing A provided with interior diaphragms A³ and A
dividing the interior of the casing into chambers A* and A° independently com-
municating with the chamber A³, valves to control said communications, and
rotatable blades mounted upon the casing provided with outlet orifices underneath
said blades, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of March 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.