Hydraulically actuated sprinkler nozzle cover
| Title: | Hydraulically actuated sprinkler nozzle cover |
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| Patent Number: | 8,602,325 |
| Publication Date: | December 10, 2013 |
| Appl. No: | 12/044205 |
| Application Filed: | March 07, 2008 |
| Abstract: | A sprinkler includes a nozzle and a cover configured for enclosing the nozzle. A hydraulically actuated mechanism supports the cover above the nozzle for reciprocation relative to the nozzle between a lower closed position and a raised open position. |
| Inventors: | Clark, Michael L. (San Marcos, CA, US); Hunter, Daniel E. (Vista, CA, US); Simmons, Zachary B. (Escondido, CA, US) |
| Assignees: | Hunter Industries, Inc. (San Marcus, CA, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A sprinkler, comprising: a rotary stream deflector with a plurality of stream forming flutes; a nozzle; means for supporting the rotary stream deflector for rotation about an axis relative to the nozzle; a cover configured for enclosing the rotary stream deflector; and a hydraulically actuated mechanism that supports the cover above the rotary stream deflector for reciprocation relative to the rotary stream deflector between a lower closed position and a raised open position, the hydraulically actuated mechanism including: a first flow path configured to direct water to raise the cover to the raised open position; and a second flow path configured to direct water to impinge upon the rotary stream deflector; wherein the first flow path and the second flow path diverge below the rotary stream deflector, and wherein the cover is sufficiently elevated in the raised open position to allow a plurality of streams of water from the second flow path to be fully ejected by the rotary stream deflector without impingement by the rotary stream deflector. |
| Claim: | 2. The sprinkler of claim 1 and further comprising a peripheral lip surrounding the rotary stream deflector that is engaged by the cover when the cover is in its lower closed position to impede the ingress of dirt and debris into the rotary stream deflector and to reduce evaporation of residual water in the rotary stream deflector. |
| Claim: | 3. The sprinkler of claim 1 and further comprising means for biasing the cover to its lower closed position. |
| Claim: | 4. The sprinkler of claim 1 and further comprising a planetary gear train reduction coupled to the rotary stream deflector for rotating the same. |
| Claim: | 5. The sprinkler of claim 4 and further comprising a turbine located between the planetary gear train reduction and the rotary stream deflector and coupled to the planetary gear reduction for driving the rotary stream deflector. |
| Claim: | 6. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the hydraulically actuated mechanism includes a piston. |
| Claim: | 7. The sprinkler of claim 6 wherein the hydraulically actuated mechanism includes a cylindrical chamber in which the piston reciprocates. |
| Claim: | 8. The sprinkler of claim 7 wherein the piston is connected to an underside of the cover. |
| Claim: | 9. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the cover has a dome-shaped configuration. |
| Claim: | 10. A sprinkler, comprising: a rotary stream deflector having a plurality of flutes; a nozzle plate having at least one orifice located adjacent the rotary stream deflector; a gear train reduction operatively coupled to the rotary stream deflector and configured to rotate the rotary stream deflector relative to the nozzle plate; a turbine coupled to the gear train reduction for driving the rotary stream deflector; a cover configured for enclosing the rotary stream deflector; and a hydraulically actuated mechanism that supports the cover above the rotary stream deflector for reciprocation relative to the rotary stream deflector between a lower closed position and a raised open position, the hydraulically actuated mechanism including: a first flow path configured to direct water to raise the cover to the raised open position; and a second flow path configured to direct water to impinge upon the rotary stream deflector; wherein the first flow path and the second flow path diverge below the rotary stream deflector, and wherein the cover is sufficiently elevated in the raised open position to allow a plurality of streams of water from the second flow path to be fully ejected by the rotary stream deflector without impingement by the rotary stream deflector. |
| Claim: | 11. The sprinkler of claim 10 and further comprising a peripheral lip surrounding the rotary stream deflector that is engaged by the cover when the cover is in its lower closed position to impede the ingress of dirt and debris into the flutes and the orifice and to reduce evaporation of residual water in the nozzle. |
| Claim: | 12. The sprinkler of claim 10 and further comprising means for biasing the cover to its lower closed position. |
| Claim: | 13. The sprinkler of claim 10 wherein the hydraulically actuated mechanism includes a piston. |
| Claim: | 14. The sprinkler of claim 13 wherein the hydraulically actuated mechanism includes a cylindrical chamber in which the piston reciprocates. |
| Claim: | 15. The sprinkler of claim 13 wherein the piston is connected to an underside of the cover. |
| Claim: | 16. The sprinkler of claim 10 wherein the cover has a dome-shaped configuration. |
| Claim: | 17. The sprinkler of claim 11 wherein the peripheral lip is connected to the nozzle plate. |
| Claim: | 18. The sprinkler of claim 13 and further comprising an elastomeric seal between the piston and a wall of the cylindrical chamber. |
| Claim: | 19. A sprinkler, comprising: a rotary stream deflector having a plurality of flutes; a nozzle plate having at least one orifice located adjacent the rotary stream deflector; a gear train reduction operatively coupled to the stream deflector and configured to rotate the rotary stream deflector relative to the nozzle plate; a turbine located between the gear train reduction and the nozzle plate and coupled to the gear train reduction for driving the rotary stream deflector; a cover configured for enclosing the rotary stream deflector; a hydraulically actuated mechanism that supports the cover above the rotary stream deflector for reciprocation relative to the rotary stream deflector between a lower closed position and a raised open position, the hydraulically actuated mechanism including: a first flow path configured to direct water to raise the cover to the raised open position; and a second flow path configured to direct water to impinge upon the rotary stream deflector; wherein the first flow path and the second flow path diverge below the rotary stream deflector, and wherein the cover is sufficiently elevated in the raised open position to allow a plurality of streams of water from the second flow path to be fully ejected by the rotary stream deflector without impingement by the rotary stream deflector; a peripheral lip surrounding the rotary stream deflector that is engaged by the cover when the cover is in its lower closed position to impede the ingress of dirt and debris into the flutes and the orifice and to reduce evaporation of residual water in the nozzle; and means for biasing the cover to its lower closed position. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 23922/211 |
| Patent References Cited: | 1192743 July 1916 Brooks 1764570 June 1930 Lohman 1770764 July 1930 Brooks 2493595 January 1950 Rieger 3724757 April 1973 Hunter 3854664 December 1974 Hunter 4182494 January 1980 Wichman et al. 4353506 October 1982 Hayes 4471908 September 1984 Hunter 4815662 March 1989 Hunter 4842201 June 1989 Hunter 4867379 September 1989 Hunter 4898332 February 1990 Hunter et al. 4932590 June 1990 Hunter 4967961 November 1990 Hunter et al. 4971250 November 1990 Hunter 5058806 October 1991 Rupar 5288022 February 1994 Sesser 5381959 January 1995 Malkin 5641122 June 1997 Alkalai et al. 5823435 October 1998 Morgan et al. 5899386 May 1999 Miyasato et al. 6244521 June 2001 Sesser 6499672 December 2002 Sesser 6651905 November 2003 Sesser 6688539 February 2004 Griend 6736332 May 2004 Sesser et al. 6814304 November 2004 Onofrio 7025282 April 2006 Hong 7032836 April 2006 Sesser et al. D527791 September 2006 Onofrio et al. 7159795 January 2007 Sesser et al. 7255291 August 2007 Lo 2004/0262426 December 2004 Antonucci et al. |
| Primary Examiner: | Boeckmann, Jason |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.08602325 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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