Compression spring shroud

Claim 2

In a sprinkler assembly adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure having a unitary bearing housing and bearing sleeve, a hollow spindle rotatably received in the bearing sleeve and having ends extending beyond the sleeve, the spindle having a first sealing means at one end thereof and an opposite end, a discharge member mounted on said opposite end for rotation with the spindle, a second sealing means disposed about the sleeve adjacent to the discharge member, and resilient means having opposite ends positioned about the sleeve and extended between the second sealing means and the bearing housing urging the spindle endwardly in the sleeve toward the discharge member to hold the first sealing means under compression; an elastic shroud extended between the housing and the second sealing means having opposite ends disposed against opposite ends of the resilient means and extending in shielding relation between said housing and second sealing means to resist intrustion of abrasive and corrosive substances thereby to minimize wearing of the sealing means, spindle and sleeve.

Claim 3

The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 in which the shroud is transversely accordian pleated to accommodate expansion and contraction of the resilient means.

Claim 4

In a bearing assembly for the discharge of fluid under pressure therethrough having relatively rotating axially slidable tubular elements providing juxtaposed circumscribing annular shoulders, and having means for resisting leakage of fluid from between said elements and for limiting axial slidable movement of said elements from each other; means for resisting intrusion of external abrasives and other contaminants between said elements when they are not internally pressurized comprising an annular elastic shroud circumscribing said elements, extended between said shoulders and having integral flanges at opposite ends thereof individually disposed in facing relation to said shoulders, and resilient means disposed under compression between said flanges urging the flanges toward their respective facing shoulders in substantially abrasive-tight interconnection between the elements.

Claim 5

In a bearing assembly for the discharge of fluid under pressure therethrough having relatively rotating axially slidable tubular elements providing juxtaposed circumscribing annular shoulders, and having means for resisting leakage of fluid from between said elements and for limiting axial slidable movement of said elements from each other; means for resisting intrusion of external abrasives and other contaminants between said elements when they are not internally pressurized comprising an annular elastic shroud circumscribing said elements, extended between said shoulders and having integral flanges at opposite ends thereof individually disposed in facing relation to said shoulders, and resilient means disposed under compression between said flanges urging the flanges toward their respective facing shoulders in substantially abrasive-tight interconnection between the elements.

Claim 6

The resisting means of claim 3 on which the resilient means is a helical spring circumscribing at least one of said elements.

Claim 7

The resisting means of claim 3 including an annular anti-friction seal disposed between one of the flanges of the shroud and its respectively facing shoulder to facilitate relative rotational movement therebetween.

Claim 8

The resisting means of claim 3 in which the shroud is transversely accordian pleated to facilitate elongation and contraction of the spring as the elements slide relatively axially of each other.

Claim 9

A bearing assembly for the discharge of fluid under pressure therethrough comprising a housing having an inwardly disposed bearing and opposite ends providing annular oppositely axially disposed thrust surfaces circumscribing the bearing; a tubular spindle rotatably mounted in the bearing having an end endwardly extended from the housing and an opposite end, said extended end being circumscribed by a radially extended flange disposed in spaced relation to an adjacent annular thrust surface of the housing; an annular seal disposed between said adjacent thrust surface and the flange; a tubular discharge member connected to said opposite end of the spindle providing an annular axially disposed shoulder in spaced relation to an adjacent annular thrust surface of the housing; a coiled compression spring circumscribing the housing disposed under compression between the annular shoulder of the discharge member and the adjacent annular thrust surface of the housing resiliently to hold the seal under compression between the flange and its adjacent thrust surface; and an elastic shroud for minimizing the intrusion of external abrasives having an inwardly extended annular flange disposed between the spring and the adjacent annular surface of the housing, a central portion continuous with the flange and circumscribing the spring, and an inwardly extended annular flange continuous with the central portion disposed between the shoulder of the discharge member and the spring.

Claim 10

A bearing assembly for the discharge of fluid under pressure therethrough comprising a housing having an inwardly disposed bearing and opposite ends providing annular oppositely axially disposed thrust surfaces circumscribing the bearing; a tubular spindle rotatably mounted in the bearing having an end endwardly extended from the housing and an opposite end, said extended end being circumscribed by a radially extended flange disposed in spaced relation to an adjacent annular thrust surface of the housing; an annular seal disposed between said adjacent thrust surface and the flange; a tubular discharge member connected to said opposite end of the spindle providing an annular axially disposed shoulder in spaced relation to an adjacent annular thrust surface of the housing; a coiled compression spring circumscribing the housing disposed under compression between the annular shoulder of the discharge member and the adjacent annular thrust surface of the housing resiliently to hold the seal under compression between the flange and its adjacent thrust surface; and an elastic shroud for minimizing the intrusion of external abrasives having an inwardly extended annular flange disposed between the spring and the adjacent annular surface of the housing, a central portion continuous with the flange and circumscribing the spring, and an inwardly extended annular flange continuous with the central portion disposed between the shoulder of the discharge member and the spring.

Claim 11

The bearing assembly of claim 7 in which the central portion of the shroud is transversely accordian pleated to facilitate longitudinal stretching and contraction with the spring.

Claim 12

The bearing assembly of claim 7 including an annular bearing seal between the shoulder of the discharge member and the adjacent inwardly extended annular flange of the shroud to facilitate relative rotational movement of the discharge member and the shroud.