Sprinkler with multi-functional, side-load nozzle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9403177-B2
Application number	US-201313927992-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2013
Priority date	Jun 26, 2013
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly includes, in a preferred arrangement, a sprinkler body provided with a flow passage along a sprinkler body axis and a nozzle insert spring-loaded received in a complementary recess formed in the sprinkler body. The nozzle insert has an axis of rotation transverse to the sprinkler body axis and is rotatable from an insertion position to plural operating positions. The nozzle insert is provided with an elongated, substantially cylindrical insert body including a nozzle bore extending through the insert body on an axis transverse to the axis of rotation and alignable with the flow passage in at least two of the plural operating positions. Plural index tabs extend radially from the insert body at circumferentially-spaced locations, and are adapted to engage respective plural index notches in the sprinkler body as the insert body is rotated to the plural operating positions.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly comprising:
a sprinkler body provided with a flow passage along a sprinkler body axis and a nozzle insert received in a complementary recess formed in said sprinkler body, said nozzle insert having an axis of rotation intersecting said sprinkler body axis and rotatable from an insertion position to plural operating positions; said nozzle insert comprising an insert body formed with a nozzle bore extending through said insert body on an axis intersecting said axis of rotation and alignable with said flow passage in at least two of said plural operating positions; and wherein plural radially extending and circumferentially-spaced index tabs provided on one of said sprinkler body and said nozzle insert are arranged to engage respective plural index notches on the other of said sprinkler body and said nozzle insert as said insert body is rotated to each of said plural operating positions, wherein said sprinkler body mounts a flexible seal at an outlet end of said flow passage for engaging said nozzle insert and sealing about a nozzle bore wall at an inlet end of said nozzle bore in at least one of said plural operating positions, said complementary recess in said sprinkler body including a pair of ribs extending along said complementary recess in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation, said insert body engaging the ribs in said plural operating positions and the ribs guiding said insert body from the insertion position to the plural operating positions, wherein the ribs position said nozzle insert such that an upstream side of said nozzle insert is engaged with said flexible seal in said at least one of said plural operating positions, and wherein the ribs define a space between said insert body and said sprinkler body on a downstream side of said nozzle insert in each of said plural operating positions.

2. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly according to claim 1 wherein said insert body is substantially cylindrical and is provided with a turning knob at a forward end of said insert body, said turning knob enabling indexing of said nozzle insert to said plural operating positions.

3. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 1 wherein a spring is interposed between said sprinkler body and said nozzle insert to bias said nozzle insert in a direction opposite an insertion direction and to bias said plural index tabs into respective ones of said plural index notches as said nozzle insert is rotated into said plural operating positions.

4. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 1 wherein said insert body further comprises a flush groove extending across a peripheral portion of said insert body for directing flow laterally away from said sprinkler body.

5. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 1 wherein said plural operating positions include at least a nozzle ON position where an inlet end of said nozzle bore is aligned with and adjacent said flow passage; a nozzle OFF position where said flow passage is sealed by a surface of said nozzle insert, and a NOZZLE FLUSH position where said nozzle bore is inverted and aligned with said flow passage.

6. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 4 wherein said plural operating positions include a LINE FLUSH position where said flush groove is aligned with said flow passage.

7. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 1 wherein said insert body is provided with a rearward end wall, a cylindrical extension concentric with said insert body extending axially away from said rearward end wall, said plural index tabs located at a rearward end of said cylindrical extension.

8. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle of claim 7 wherein said plural index tabs extend radially at circumferentially-spaced locations from said cylindrical extension, and wherein said complementary recess is provided with a radial flange proximate a rearward end of said complementary recess, said radial flange formed on a forward side with plural insert slots arranged to receive said plural index tabs when said nozzle insert is fully inserted within said complementary recess, and on a back side with said plural index notches, circumferentially between said insert slots.

9. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 8 wherein a spring is interposed between said sprinkler body and said nozzle insert to bias said nozzle insert in a direction opposite an insertion direction and to bias said plural index tabs into respective ones of said plural index notches as said nozzle insert is rotated into said plural operation positions.

10. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 2 wherein said turning knob is formed with a rounded point at one end thereof, and a stop tab extends radially from said forward end face, in radial alignment with said rounded point.

11. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 10 wherein said sprinkler body is provided on a forward edge thereof with a stop, said stop tab located adjacent said stop when said nozzle insert is fully inserted into said sprinkler body, thereby preventing rotation of said nozzle insert in one of two possible rotation directions from said insertion position.

12. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said plural index tabs is substantially U shaped including a face surface and a pair of spaced stems extending rearwardly from said face surface, and wherein for said two of said four index tabs, one of said pair of spaced stems extends radially outwardly further than the other of said pair of spaced stems.

13. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 12 wherein two of said plural index notches are matched to said two of said four index tabs such that said nozzle insert can be fully inserted into said complementary recess in only one orientation of said nozzle insert relative to said sprinkler body.

14. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 13 wherein, for each of said four index tabs, said stems join to said face surface at beveled edges which facilitate entry into and exit from said plural index notches.

15. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 5 wherein said sprinkler body is provided with openings alignable with said nozzle bore when said nozzle insert is in said nozzle OFF position to thereby enable manual cleaning of said nozzle bore.

16. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 6 wherein said sprinkler body is provided with at least one aperture alignable with said flush groove when said nozzle insert is in said LINE FLUSH position.

17. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 1 wherein said operating positions include, in a clockwise direction of rotation of said nozzle insert from said insertion position: a nozzle ON position; a nozzle OFF position; a nozzle FLUSH position; and a LINE FLUSH position.

18. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 5 wherein said flexible seal engages said nozzle insert and seals about the nozzle bore wall at the inlet end of said nozzle bore at least in said nozzle ON position.

19. The sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly of claim 18 wherein said flexible seal is comprised of radially inner and outer ring portions.

20. A sprinkler and side-loading nozzle insert assembly comprising:
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Assignees

• Nelson Irrigation Corp

Inventors

• Sesser George L
• Nelson Barton R
• Nelson Craig B
• Nelson Reid A
• Schisler Richard L
• Neal Meade M

Classifications

• B05B1/326

  Gate valves; Sliding valves; Cocks · CPC title

• B05B15/52 Primary

  for removal of clogging particles · CPC title

• B05B15/534

  by reversing the nozzle relative to the supply conduit · CPC title

• B05B3/0426

  the liquid driven rotor being a deflecting rotating element · CPC title

• B05B15/0208 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic