GB2150862A

GB2150862A - Adjustable cam controlled sprinkler

Info

Publication number: GB2150862A
Application number: GB08430222A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joel Schwartzman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-12-02
Filing date: 1984-11-30
Publication date: 1985-07-10
Also published as: GB8430222D0; GB2150862B; FR2555914A1; IL73654A0; CA1301215C; KR920002906B1; FR2555914B1; BR8406043A; AU570280B2; ZA849001B; JPS60137461A; MX162885B; KR850004183A; JPH0724793B2; DE3442496C2; DE3442496A1; AU3545884A

Abstract

A water distributing device comprises a nozzle; means to deliver water to the nozzle; a camming surface concentrically disposed about the axis of rotation of said nozzle; a cam setting means to vary the height of said camming surface; and a cam follower contacting at one end said cam surface and at the other end said spray nozzle to vary the spray pattern emitting from the nozzle in accordance with the relative height set of the camming surface. Valve means responsive to said cam setting vary the quantity of water dispersed in relation to the pattern set by the camming surface. When applied to an oscillating type water-sprinkler, the cam follower means is disposed on the splash plate and rotates around the camming surface. Means are provided to specifically mount the base of the water distributing device attitude in a fixed attitude so that it can be removed and replaced and still maintain the same exact location so that the previously set camming determined spray pattern will still be applicable to the repositioned or to the remounted sprinkler or water distributing apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable cam controlled sprinkler This invention relates to water dispersing devices and more particularly to lawn watering or sprinkling devices.

It has long been a problem in the use of lawn sprinklers to provide a pattern which will place the water where it is needed and only where it is needed. Almost all of the most effective lawn sprinklers or water dispersing or distributing apparatus operate on some sort of a rotating head principle, either the head oscillates under the force of an impulse sprinkler or the head merely rotates under the reaction of the exhaust of the water being dispelled. Because the distributing apparatus produce circular patterns and since most property boundaries are not circular, there are usually situations where it is necessary to spray large quantities of water into areas where such spray is not desired in order to cover the desired areas with water.The alternative is to spray less than all of the desired areas and to use soaking strips or other means to water the areas which cannot be sprayed easily.

This problem has existed for a long time and has perplexed horticulturists, homeowners and others interested in lawn maintenance. Many attempts have been made in the past to provide some sort of apparatus which could alter the dispersal of water from this circular arc perimeter pattern. Several examples of these attempts are shown in the following U.S. patents: 1,593,918 to Stanton; 2,421,551 to Dunham; 2,565,926 to Manning; 2,582,158 to Porter; 2.962,220 to Woods; 2,999,645 to Kennedy; 3,033,469 to Green; 3,070,314 to Warren; 3,070,315 to Landry; 3,081,039 to Kennedy; 3,082,958 to Thomas; 3,204,874 to Senninger; 3,606,163 to Lewis; and 4,277,029 to Rabitsch.

Some of the sprinklers described in the aforementioned U.S. Patents have camming surfaces which enable the sprinkler to produce square, rectangular or odd shaped sprinkling areas (see for example Stanton, Manning, and Porter). However, none of these references describe camming surfaces which are easily adjustable to provide for variation of the angle of spray to thereby produce the square, rectangular or odd shaped sprinkling areas. Additionally, none of these references describe a valving means which functions with the angle of the spray to decrease or increase the flow through the nozzle to further provide for adjustment of the area sprayed.

In order to overcome the problems of the prior art, a new and improved water distributing apparatus, the present invention, is provided. The water distributing device comprises a nozzle; means to deliver water to the nozzle; a camming surface concentrically disposed about the axis of rotation of said nozzle; a support surface extending from said nozzle disposed proximate said concentric cam surface; a cam setting means supported by said support means and contacting said camming surface to vary the height of said camming surface; and a cam follower means contacting at one end to said cam surface and at the other end to said spray nozzle to vary the spray pattern emitting from the nozzle in accordance with the relative height set of the camming surface from the support means.Valve means responsive to said cam setting vary the quantity of water dispersed in relation to the pattern set by the camming surface.

When applied to an oscillating type water-sprinkler, the cam follower means is disposed on the splash plate and rotates around the camming surface the splash plate will move in accordance with the shape of the camming surface that has been preset by means of the cam setting means, thereby providing a definite pattern for the liquid which is dispersed.

Means are provided to specifically mount the base of the water distributing device attitude in a fixed attitude so that it can be removed and replaced and still maintain the same exact location so that the previously set camming determined spray pattern will still be applicable to the repositioned or to the remounted sprinkler or water distributing apparatus.

Valve means are provided in the passageway to the nozzle which are actuated in relation to the positioning of the camming surface to reduce the flow of water when the range of the water stream is reduced.

In rotary type sprinklers, the cam follower extends from the sprinkler arms to contact the camming surface as the arms rotate.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a water distributing device which can produce a varied spraying or dispersal pattern of water.

Another object is to provide a water dispersing device which can produce an easily varied spray pattern.

Yet another object is to provide a water dispersing device which can produce a widely varied spray pattern.

Still another object is to provide a water dispersing device which can produce an easily set spray pattern.

A further object is to provide a water dispersing device which can produce an accurately determined spray pattern.

Another object is to provide a water dispersing device which can produce a pattern encompassing a full 360 or any portion.

Still another object is to provide a water dispersing device which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Yet another object is to provide a water dispersing device which is durable.

A further object is to provide a water dispersing device which is reliable.

A still further object is to provide a water dispersing device which can be easily maintained.

A still further object is to provide a water dispersing device which does not require extensive adjustment.

Still another object is to provide a water dispersing device which does not require complicated mechanisms.

Another object is to provide a water dispersing device which can be adapted to be retrofitted onto existing sprinklers.

Yet another object is to provide a water dispersing device which can be aligned and realigned without difficulty.

A further object is to provide a water dispersing device which can always be positioned in the same position to produce spray dispersal or to produce the same pattern of dispersion.

A still further object is to provide a water dispersing device which can be quickly adjusted.

Still another object is to provide a water dispersing device which does not require any special tools to adjust.

Another object is to provide a water dispersing device which will not go out of adjustment easily.

Yet another object is to provide a water dispersing device which is made from standard materials.

A further object is to provide a water dispersing device which does not require any special housings and is always visible for maintenance.

Another object is to provide a water dispersing device which can be used with high or low speed and/or pressure rotary devices and still produce an appropriate spray pattern.

Yet another object is to provide a water dispersing device which can vary the pattern of a continuously rotating dispersing arm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler which can produce a predetermined, precise pattern of dispersal which can compensate for variations in pressure of the water supply to the sprinkler.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water dispersal device which can provide patterns of dispersion which will include independent spray patterns on multiple arms.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water dispersal apparatus having plurality of arms with the flow pattern for each arm capable of being set independently.

Yet another object of the present invention is a water dispersal device which provides for positive engagement between the control mechanism and the control setting device.

Yet another object of the present invention is a water dispersal device which varies the quantity of water in relation to the range of the water stream.

Yet another object of the present invention is a water dispersal device which incorporates valving means responsive to an adjustable dispersion pattern to adjust the flow rate in relation to the dispersion pattern.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the more detailed description of the illustrative embodiments which follow with the novel features of the invention being pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a sprinkler with a controlled dispersing pattern, said sprinkler being built in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 1A is a partial enlarged view showing the cam following surface on the end of the spray control arm or splash plate and showing the control means for varying the flow in relation to the water pressure.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the sprinkler shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the covering head member of the sprinkler shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a partial view showing the water entry system, in particular, the valve system for the rotating head of the sprinkler.

Figure 5 shows a typical water dispersal pattern which can be accomplished by means of the dispersing device built in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Figure 6 shows the typical line of flow of a standard water dispersing device.

Figure 7 shows the different patterns of flow that are available by the water dispersing device built in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 8 is an enlarged partial view showing another embodiment of the camming surface for controlling the position of the splash plate of the water dispersing device.

Figure 9 is a partial elevational view taken along lines 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10A shows another embodiment of the means for positioning the camming surface used in this invention.

Figure 10B is a view taken along line 1OB-B of Figure 10A.

Figure 11A shows still another embodiment of the means for positioning the camming surface used in this invention.

Figure 118 is a partial side elevation taken along line 11B-B of Figure 11A.

Figure 12A is an exploded view showing a mounting device used for mounting a sprinkler head built in accordance with the teachings of the present invention so that the dispersal pattern is always the same when the sprinkler is used.

Figure 12B is a side elevation of the sprinkler head mounting device shown in Figure 12A.

Figure 12C is a view taken along line 12C-C of Figure 12B, showing the cross section of the mounting and aligning device.

Figure 13A and Figure 13AA are other embodiments of the water dispersing device built in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 13B and Figure 13BB are views taken along lines 13B-B and 13BB-BB of Figure 13A and Figure 13AA, respectively.

Figure 13C and Figure 13CC are partial elevational views taken along lines 13C-C and 13CC-CC of Figure 13B and Figure 13BB, respectively.

Figure 14 shows a spray pattern having a wedge shaped portion in which there is no spray pro vided.

Figure 15 shows a quadrant of a spray pattern with the various patterns produced by a multiarmed sprinkler.

Figure 16 shows a rectangular plot showing the variations in the spray pattern that can be accomplished by a multi-armed sprinkler.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the sprinkler of this invention.

Figure 18 is a side elevation of the sprinkler shown in Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the valvemeans taken along line 19-19 in Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a break-a-way perspective view of the control means and valve means used in the embodiment in Figure 17 to restrict the flow of liquid to the nozzle in relation to the angular position of the nozzle.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, we show a water dispersing apparatus generally indicated as 20, having a main pipe 22 which carries water up to a dispensing head generally indicated as 24. As shown in Fig. 2, water can also enter the main pipe 22 through a "T" or a right angle fitting shown as 26. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the entire assembly is screwed down onto the top of threaded mounting pipe 28 by means of a threaded collar 30.

Water from mounting pipe 28 will pass through the end of the collar 30 into the lower portion of the assembly, and then pass up through a swivel joint 32, (that is well known in the art) into sprinkling device to the dispensing nozzle 34. The dispensing nozzle 34 is controlled by means of an impulse feeder 36, which is actuated by the water stream leaving the dispensing nozzle 34, and which will push the head or the dispensing nozzle 34 around on the swivel joint 32 until the bottom of the dispensing nozzle 37 engages the stop guides 38 in the standard manner used in such impulse type sprinkler means.

The splash plate, generally indicated as 40, mounted on the top of the dispensing head 24 is more clearly shown in Fig. 3. The mounting of the splash plate 40 has a splash end 44 that is depressed and adapted to deflect the stream of water leaving the dispensing nozzle 34. The top of the plate 40 is pivotedly mounted to a fixed housing 50 by means of a pivot pin 42 and spring means 46 fitting inside a boss 48 in the underside of the splash plate 40 and extending to the top of the fixed housing 50. The fixed housing 50 itself is resiliently fixed to the back of the delivery pipe 52 and nozzle end 34. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the back 54 of the splash plate 40 extends downward and rests against a cam surface 56 made of a flexible material which is positioned around the inlet nozzle 34 adjacent or proximate to a fixed and rigid support member 58.A plurality of thumb set screws 60 are positioned around the support member 58 and are threadably engaged therewith. By threading these set screws 60 or cam setting means, inwardly or upwardly, the height of the camming surface 56 will be adjusted and this, in turn, will cause the splash end 44 of the splash plate 40 to be lowered; and therefore, cause a greater deflection of the water leaving the nozzle 34; and thereby reducing the range.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bearing rod 80 that the splash plate is mounted upon is connected with a dispensing head 24 and will oscillate in a vertical direction in relation to the position of this splash plate 40. When the splash plate 40 is forced down ward by means of the cam follower arm, the bear ing 80 will therefore be lowered into the triangular passage to restrict the flow of liquid coming up from the delivery pipe 22 into the dispensing head.

As shown, the bearing rod 80 is sealingly mounted in the dispensing head by means of "0" ring 84. It rides in a shaft in the dispensing head having a bottom 82. The passageway to the discharge nozzle in the dispensing head is triangularly shaped so that when the bearing rod 80 extends downward, it will block the top of the triangular section and this area of blockage will increase as the bearing mem ber is forced progressively downward.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 1A, the bottom of the back of the splash plate 54 or the control arm 64 has a cam following section 66 having a surface offset relative to the perpendicular of the axis of the arm 64. This cam following surface 66 is relatively wide, having a large flat area with rounded ends. The advantages of such a configuration are that the camming surface 56, being of a relatively flexible material, will tend to be flattened toward the horizontal by a large flat surface of cam following surface 66. Additionally, the wider the flat area of the cam following surface 66, the larger will be the permitted angle of radial movement of the control arm 64 which can be accommodated with the camming surface 56 still covering the circular track which runs directly over the ends of the cam setting screws 60.

As shown in Fig. 1A, the control arm 64 can be made of two separate pieces 70,72 having a telescoping relationship to each other. The outer piece 70 is hollow and has a hole therein which is adapted to receive a thumbscrew and wing nut arrangement 74 passing therethrough. This enables the inner piece or lower end 72, which is slotted (not shown) to slidably fit within the outer piece 70. This arrangement permits the control arm 64 to be lengthened or shortened by loosening the wing nut 74 and retightening it after the appropriate positioning of the lower end 72.

The ability to adjust the length of the control arm 64 enables the length of the arm to compensate for variations in water pressure provided to the inlet or main pipe 22. Therefore, for a given setting of the various cam setting members 60, the control arm 64 can be lengthened or shortened to, in effect, change the angle of deflection of the splash end 44 that deflects the stream 76. (Figs. 1 and 2) Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the details of the valving system used to modulate the flow of water to the nozzle 34 of the sprinkler. The pivotable splash plate 40, which has the control arm 64 ending in the cam follower section 66 which contacts the camming surface 56, pivots about point 78, in accordance with the setting of the camming surface 56, which in turn will adjust the arm 64.As the arm 64 pivots in accordance with the position of the camming surface 56, it will force the locating pin 43 downward against the top of the shaft 80 as shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 4, the bottom of shaft 80 fits into a shoulder 84 in the passage 82 for water and intersects the pathway of the water flow path from the inlet pipe 22 to the nozzle 34 of the sprinkler.

The shoulder 84 contains an o-ring and a bushing 86 which is used to mount and guide the shaft 80 as it moves up and down in the passage. When the shaft 80 is in the full down position, it will substantially shut off the flow path of the water from the inlet 22 to the nozzle 34. When the shaft 80 is in the raised position it will leave the passage relatively unobstructed. The shaft 80 thus moves up and down in relation to the position of the splash plate 40, which in turn is positioned by the cam follower end 66 of the extending and descending control arm 64 of the splash plate 40, which in turn will position the splash end 44.

An adjustment on the position of the valving shaft 80, for a given relationship of the arm 64 is accomplished by adjustment of the locating pin 43.

This pin 43 is threadably connected to the top of the splash plate 40 and bears against the top of the valving shaft 80. A spring 88, positioned between the head 90 of the valving shaft 80 and the top of the fixed nozzle housing 50, tends to urge the valving shaft 80 to the uppermost position. The splash plate 40 is urged to the uppermost position, as mentioned previously, by means of spring means 46 which bears against the top of the nozzle housing 50 and the bottom of the plash plate 40 and fits into the receiving boss 48.

Threading the locating pin 43 down towards the valving shaft 80 will permanently depress the valving shaft 80 for purposes of restricting the flow of water to the nozzle of the sprinkler.

Figures 17 through 20 are another embodiment of the sprinkler of this invention differing from the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 4 in the different control means and valve means used to restrict the flow of liquid to the nozzle in relation to the angular position of the nozzle. In Figures 17-20, where applicable, the elements are specified in the same manner as in Figures 1-4 and have the same function.

Referring to Fig. 17 the water dispersing apparatus 20 has a main pipe 22 which carries water up to the dispensing head 24. As shown in Fig. 18 water can also enter the main pipe 22 through the "T" or the right angle fitting 26. The entire assembly is screwed down onto the top of threaded mounting pipe 28 by means of a threaded collar 30. Water from mounting pipe 28 will pass through the end of the collar 30 into the lower portion of the assembly, and then pass up through a swivel joint 32, into sprinkling device to the dispensing nozzle 34. The dispensing nozzle 34 is controlled by means of an impulse feeder 36, actuated by the water stream leaving dispensing nozzle 34, to push the dispensing nozzle 34 around the joint 32 until the bottom of the nozzle 37 engages the stop guides 38.

The splash plate 40 is mounted on the top of the dispensing head 24. The splash plate 40 has a splash end 44 that is depressed and adapted to deflect the stream of water leaving the dispensing nozzle 34. The top of the plate 40 is pivotedly mounted to a fixed housing 50 by means of a pivot pin 42 and spring means 46 fitting inside a boss 48 in the underside of the splash plate 40 and extending to the top of the fixed housing 50. The back 54 of the splash plate 40 extends downward and rests against the cam surface 56 which is positioned around the inlet nozzle 34 adjacent or proximate to a fixed and rigid support member 58. The plurality of thumb set screws 60 positioned around the support member 58 are threadably engaged therewith.

Threading the set screws 60 inwardly or upwardly, adjust the height of the camming surface 56 causing the splash end 44 of the splash plate 40 to be lowered causing a greater deflection of the water leaving the nozzle 34; and thereby reducing the range.

The bottom of the back of the splash plate 54 or the control arm 64 has a cam following section 66 having a surface offset relative to the perpendicular of the axis of the arm 64.

The control arm 64 is made of two separate pieces 70, 72 having a telescoping relationship to each other, alternatively, a fitting such as a push rod-type turn-buckle. The outer piece 70 is hollow and has a hole therein which is adapted to receive a thumbscrew and wing nut arrangement 74 passing therethrough. This enables the inner piece or lower end 72, which is slotted (not shown) to slidably fit within the outer piece 70. This arrangement permits the control arm 64 to be lengthened or shortened by loosening the wing nut 74 and retightening it after the appropriate positioning of the end piece 72.

Figures 19 and 20, in particular, show the details of the control means and valve means used in this embodiment to restrict the flow of liquid to the nozzle in relation to setting of the camming surface and in the angular position of the nozzle. A butterfly valve 166 is provided in the inlet pipe 52 to the nozzle 34. As shown in Figures 19 and 20, the butterfly valve has a crank arm 168 extending from the mounting axle 170 of the valve 166. The mounting axle 170 or pivot member supports the valve body 166 within the inlet nozzle 52. The crank arm 168 is connected to the cam follower 66 by connecting rods 172 and 174 which are adjustably connected to each other through slots 176 and 178 by screw 180 and nut 182. This adjustment means permits this inlet throttle valve 166 to be adjusted in relation to the cam follower arm 66.

Thus the valve will throttle the amount of water that will reach the nozzle 34 in relation to the setting of the camming surface 56. The valve 166 will restrict the amount of water that reaches the nozzle 34 where the camming pattern is set to restrict the flow from the nozzle 34 to a shorter distance. Similarly, where it is desired to have maximum range on the sprinkler, the crank arm 168 and rods 176 and 178 will set the butterfly valve 166 in the maximum open position to provide a minimum restric tion to the flow which will be reaching the nozzle 34.

In Fig. 5, a typical spray pattern, which can be accomplished by the described device is shown. By greater deflection downward of the splash plate 40 at radial positions 4 to 5 o'clock (D) and 7 to 8 o'clock (F) as shown in Fig. 5. Similarly, in the 6 o'clock position (E) where there is almost no deflection by the splash plate 40, as well as in the 11 and 1 o'clock positions, (A and C), the range will be longer and, therefore, the water will have a further reach.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the effect of the deflection of the water as seen from the side. It is clear that only a relatively small vertical deflection of the control arm 64 of the splash plate 40 will be sufficient to pivot the plate 40 sufficiently to greatly increase or decrease the range of the stream 76 that is exiting from the nozzle 34.

Fig. 7 shows the effect on the spray flow 76 of adjustments in the locating pin 43 to raise or lower the valving shaft 80 within the sprinkler head. By lowering the locating pin 43 and, therefore, lowering the valving shaft 80 into the flow path to the nozzle 34, a weaker flow is obtained for a given angle than would be the case if the valving shaft 80 were raised higher.

In Figs. 8 and 9 another embodiment of the camming means is shown, in which the camming surface 150 is threadably and, therefore, positively engaged to the cam setting means, in this case by means of thumb screws 152 threadably engaged to the support plate 154 as in the previous embodiment. However, a washer 96 is threadably positioned below the flexible cam surface 150. The cam follower end 156 of the splash plate is modified to include a specific cam follower member 98 which is fitted into a hooked portion 100 at the end of the cam follower end 156 so that cam surface 150 forces, are downward instead of being upward forces in the embodiment in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, between the cam surface 150 and the cam follower 156, the cam surface 150 exerts a downward force to extend the range and tilt the splash head upward to allow the maximum range.In effect, this is a more positive type of camming in that there is always engagement between the cam surface 150 and the cam follower 156 as the head rotates around the camming surface 150.

Fig. 10 shows another embodiment by which the cam surface 150 can be adjusted. In this case, the support plate 160 has an annular shoulder 102 and the thumb screw 104 having a tapered point 102 is threadably engaged in the horizontal position. Extending the thumb screw 104 inward will tend to raise up the cam surface 158. Withdrawal of the thumb screw 104 will allow the cam plate or surface 158 to retract or lower.

Fig. 11 shows yet another modification of the cam setting means, somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 10, but in which an eccentric lobe 106 is fitted onto the end of the thumb screw 108 to augment the displacement of the cam plate 164 by rotation of the screw- 108. The device, shown in Fig. 11, is extremely advantageous in that it allows for a very quick and rapid setting and a very sensitive setting of the camming plate 164.

After much time has been spent in positioning the sprinkler and setting the full pattern, as has often been the problem in the past, this effort is all wasted once the sprinkler is removed as is often the case when the lawn is mowed. In order to overcome this situation a special receptor member, shown in Fig. 12 as 110, is provided which has a Yshaped cross section or any easily positioned shape, whether it be square, oval, Y-shaped, etc.

Preferably it has extending arms 112 so that once positioned into the earth, it will not be able to rotate or will not rotate under the force of the rotating forces that act on the sprinkler. The sprinkler is provided with a standard mounting spike 114 connected to the sprinkling device in the standard manner and which has a cross section which mates with the mounting member receptacle 116 that is placed into the ground. Therefore, by positioning the sprinkler mounting spike in the mounting receptacle 116. Thus the same initial orientation of the camming surface with the area to be watered can always be maintained so that the setting of the sprinkler will always remain constant.

In Figs. 13A, B and C, and Figs. 13AA, BB and CC, yet other embodiments of the invention are shown, in which a water turbine type head is used to dispense water from one or more continuously rotating dispensing arms. Referring to all of these Figures, the base 120 has water inlet 122 which then passes up through a central column 124 and passes into dispensing arms 118. Each dispensing arm 118 has an eccentrically positioned cam following surface 126. The eccentrically positioned cam follower surface 126 extends outward from each arm 118 and contacts the camming surface 128 which is mounted around the central column 124. The surface 128 is positioned by means of the cam positioning means or thumb screws 130 threadably mounted into the support plate 132 in a manner as has been previously described.The type of rotary sprinkler here tends to operate at relatively high speeds, though the apparatus can operate at low speed and low pressure with equally good results, and the eccentric cam following surface 126 attached to each arm will tend to follow the setting of the camming surface 128. By following the setting of the camming surface 128, the spraying arms 118 which extend from the central rotating housing are raised or lowered.

As shown in Figs. 13B and 13BB, water passes to the inlet of the dispensing arm 118 from the central column 124, through mating holes 134 and 136 in the inlet and housing, and into the end of the arm 118.

Fig. 13A shows a preferred method of connecting the rotating sprinkler arm 118 with the camming surface 128. The connecting means consists of two arms 134, 136, one of which 134, is rigidly connected to the sprinkler spray arm 118, and the other 136, is pivotably connected to the fixed arm 134 and descends downward to ride on the top of the camming surface or underneath the camming surface 128 in the manner shown in Figs. 8 and 9 herein. A spring means 137 is connected, between the descending articulated arm 136 and the fixed arm 134 connected to the sprinkler arm 118. The spring means keeps the fixed arm 13 in proper position for the cam follower end 126 to contact the cam surface 128.

As noted in Fig. 13A, the outside edge of the cam surface 128 contacts lower descending arm 136 and prevents the arm from moving substantially from the vertical. Therefore, as the vertically disposed descending arm 134, 136 moves up and down with the variation in the setting of the camming surface 128, the spring means connecting the articulated vertical arm 136 will cause the arm 134 fixed to the spray arm 118 to rotate in relationship to the setting of the camming surface and therefore, moving the spray arm 118 up and down.

Optionally, as dipicted in Figs. 13AA and BB, one of the articulated arms, i.e. 136 in Fig. 13A, may be dispensed with and the arm 134 prevented from moving vertically and maintained in contact with the camming surface 128 by spring means 184.

The spring means 184 is connected to the bottom of arm 118 and to extending member 186 extending from the central column 124. The spring means 184 maintains the cam follower in contact with the camming surface 128 and yet permits the arm 118 to rise and fall with the camming action as it rotates.

A valving arrangement is also provided to proportionately reduce the amount of flow to the spray arm 118 when in the lower position. This is shown in Fig. 13C. A triangular passage 140 is provided in the receptacle 143 for the valve arm 118.

Rotation of the rectangular passage 145 in the valve arm 118, in relation to the triangular passage 140, will tend to reduce the cross-sectional area of the passage for flow and thereby effectively reduce water flow. As shown in Figs. 13AA and 13BB, arm 118 can be maintained in a fixed position, to thereby assure a constant cross-sectional area for liquid flow by a lock-nut 188 threadably engaging arm 118 and abutting central column 124. When it is desired to secure the arm, lock-nut 188 is threaded toward the central column 124 until it abuts the column 124 to thereby lock the arm 118 in position.

Additionally, as shown in Fig. 13B, each of the arms 118 connected to the central rotating column 124 has two elements connected by a coupling means 144. The outer portion of the arm 142 is fixedly positioned in the coupling means 144 by means of a set screw 146, extending through the coupling 144 to hold the angle of the arm 142 fixed in relation to the coupling 144. Similarly, the coupling itself 144 is held fixed, with relation to the angle of the inner arm 149, by means of a second set screw 148 in the coupling 144.

Therefore, the initial setting of the valving setting, produced by the relationship between the rotary position of the arm 118 and the valve port 140 in the receptacle 143, can be established and still retain the appropriate angular relationship between the nozzle end of the arm 118 and the housing.

The rotary position of the housing is controlled by means of the descending control arm 134 as mentioned previously.

It should also be pointed out that the length of arm 134 from the coupling 144 can be controlled and adjusted by means of a thumb and set screw arrangement 141 somewhat similar to that for the arm 64 shown in Fig. 1A, where the thumbscrew arrangement can be used to adjust the length of the arm. It should be pointed out that if more than one arm is used, the length of the control arm could be adjusted for each arm so that the angle of the arms could be adjusted with each setting.

Therefore you could have in effect, a series of concentric patterns in the manner shown in Figure 15.

Similarly, one arm 118 of the many could be completely removed from the system so as to give a purely circular pattern by merely removing the arms 134, 136 from the camming surface 126.

Therefore, it would even be possible to have a situation where one arm could be providing a rectangular or a square pattern while the other arm could be providing a completely circular pattern.

The cutout and rectangular patterns in Figs. 14 and 16 could be obtained by the appropriate setting of the outer arm 142 in relation to the inner arm 149, and setting the inner arm 149 in relation to the valving system 140, 145 so that at a given setting of the camming surface 126, water from the central housing 124 would be completely occluded by means of the valving arrangement between the inner arm 149 and the rotary central housing 124.

Several points should be noted from the previous. First, the present invention uses many previously known parts in combination with a unique and novel means for positioning the splash plate to adjust the range of the spray from the sprinkler.

No elaborate parts are necessary, no delicate machinery is required. The items that are used can be made from standard, relatively available, equipment. Since the item is relatively simple it does not require complicated setting procedures nor is it overly sensitive once properly adjusted. The flexible camming material can be made from any one of a large number of materials presently available which will be durable and still be flexible enough to provide the necessary support. It should also be noted that no special housings are required to enclose the adjusting item and therefore, the item is relatively simple to manufacture and therefore, relatively cheap to manufacture.

Further, the mounting means for accurately mounting and positioning the apparatus insures that once the apparatus has been adjusted for the appropriate spray pattern that it need not be readjusted. It can be removed with ease in order to provide an unobstructed surface in the lawn for the normai mowing that will be required from the abundant grass growth produced by the effective watering of the invention.

As can be seen and is readily apparent, a wide variety of spray patterns can be obtained using this invention and this will greatly enhance the ability to accurately display or dispense water in preselected patterns.

It should be pointed out that while this is shown as a pipe mounted device, or an externally mounted device, or a device intended for use above ground, this system is easily adaptable to "underground sprinklers" which are, in effect, sprinkler heads mounted very low to the surface of the ground. All that is necessary is that the splash plate and camming plate be capable of adjustment above the level of the support plate. An inordinate amount of clearance need not be provided as can be seen from the embodiment shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

While the invention has been described in connection with the illustrated embodiment, other modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A water distributing device comprising: a nozzle having a discharge orifice; means to deliver water to the nozzle; means to rotate the nozzle as water exits from said nozzle; a camming surface disposed about the axis of rotation of said nozzle; a support surface extending from said nozzle disposed proximate said cam surface; a cam setting means supported by said support means and contacting said camming surface to vary the shape of said camming surface; and a cam follower means connected to said nozzle contacting at one end of said cam surface and at the other end to said nozzle to vary the spray pattern emitting from the nozzle in accordance with the shape of the camming surface shaped by said cam setting means.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: valve means to restrict the flow of liquid to said nozzle; and control means to control said valve means dependent upon the angular position of the nozzle with the camming surface to restrict the flow of liquid to the nozzle in relation to the position of the nozzle.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the control means comprises a connecting means between the cam follower means and the valve means to proportionately control the flow of liquid by the position of the cam follower means.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising means to compensate for different hydraulic pressures provided to the nozzle to vary the spray pattern emitting from the nozzle.

5. The water distributing device of claim 4 wherein the means to compensate for different hydraulic pressures provided to the nozzle comprise means to adjust the length of the cam follower means connected to the nozzle.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the means to rotate the nozzle is by an impulse means actuated by a water stream leaving the nozzle.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the means to rotate the nozzle is by the reaction of the nozzle to a water stream exiting the nozzle.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising: a splash plate connected to said nozzle to effect the flow of water leaving the discharge orifice; connecting means connecting said cam follower means to said splash plate to position said splash plate in relation to the shape of said camming surface.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said valve means to restrict the flow of liquid to said nozzle comprise: valve means in said means to deliver water to said nozzle; connecting means connecting said splash plate to said valve means in said water delivering means to make said valve means in said water delivery means responsive to said position of said splash plate.

10. The device of claim 7 further comprising: a rotary housing; at least one arm extending from said housing having a discharge orifice at the end of said arm; said arm mounted in said housing and rotatable along the axis of said arm for at least a portion of the length of said arm.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said valve means to restrict the flow of liquid to said nozzle comprise: passage means in said rotary housing; passage means in said arm; means to vary the registration of said housing passage means with said arm passage means to restrict the flow of liquid therethrough.

12. A water distributing device comprising: a camming means; a support means; means to adjust the height of the camming means relative the support means; a spray head; a nozzle on the spray head; a splash plate extending over the nozzle of the spray head; cam follower means on the end of said splash plate extending down to and adapted to contact the camming surface to adjust the angle of the splash plate over the nozzle; and a resilient means to force the cam follower of the splash plate into operative engagement with the camming means to vary the angle of the splash plate as the spray head rotates in accordance with the height of the camming means.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the nozzle is rotated by an impulse means actuated by a water stream leaving the nozzle.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the means to adjust the height of the camming means relative the support means comprise a plurality of screw means threaded into said support means and contacting said camming means to prevent said camming from deforming under contact with said cam follower means.

15. The device of claim 12, further comprising a control means to further adjust the angle of the splash plate over the nozzle to compensate for different hydraulic pressures provided to the nozzle.

16. A water distributing device comprising: a nozzle; flow path means to the nozzle; an inlet means to provide a source of liquid to the flow path means; means to move the nozzle in an arc; valve means in the flow path to restrict the flow of liquid to the nozzle; and control means dependent upon the angular position of the nozzle to control the position of the valve means to restrict the flow of liquid to the nozzle in relation to the angular position of the nozzle.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the nozzle is moved in an arc by an impulse means actuated by a water stream leaving the nozzle.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the nozzle is moved in an arc by the reaction of the nozzle to a water stream leaving the nozzle.

19. The water distributing device of claim 16, wherein the control means dependent upon the angular position of the nozzle to control the position of the valve means to restrict the flow of liquid to the nozzle in relation to the angular position of the nozzle, comprise: camming means arcuately dispersed about said nozzle; cam follower means rotating with said nozzle and contacting said camming means; and connecting means between said cam follower means and said valve means to control said valve means in response to said cam follower means.

20. The water distributing device of claims 1, 12 and 16 further comprising means to removably position said nozzle with a fixed orientation comprising: mounting spike means extending from said nozzle having an asymmetrically shaped cross section; receptor spike means having an asymmetrically shaped perimeter cross section so as to be fixed in a specific position when driven into a lawn; said receptor spike means having a passage means adapted to removably receive said mounting spike means in fixed attitude to said receptor spike.

21. A water distributing device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.