Rotary sprinkler

Claim 2

A rotary sprinkler comprising: a housing connectable to a source of pressurized water and having a bore; a tubular shaft having a central axis disposed coaxially of the bore; means mounting the shaft on The housing for rotation including bearing means; and resilient sealing means disposed in the bore in sealing engagement therewith between the source of pressurized water and the bearing means for protecting the latter from the former and thereby prolonging the life of the bearing means, the sealing means being responsive to the pressure of the water for increasing the amount of the sealing engagement thereof with the bore, said sealing means having an inner cylindrical portion coaxial with the tubular shaft and a larger diameter cylindrical portion which engages the bore, the cylindrical portions of the sealing means being interconnected by a frustoconical portion integral therewith.

Claim 3

The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the sealing means is made of a resilient material which flexes in response to water pressure to thrust the tubular shaft in a downstream direction.

Claim 4

The sprinkler of claim 2 wherein said bore is defined by a cylindrical wall having a shoulder, said shoulder engaging the sealing means at the juncture of the frustoconical and larger diameter portions of the sealing means for preventing movement of said larger diameter portion downstream and effecting tighter sealing engagement in response to said water pressure.

Claim 5

The sprinkler of claim 2 wherein a thrust washer surrounds said inner cylindrical portion of the sealing means at its juncture with the frustoconical portion.

Claim 6

The sprinkler of claim 4 wherein said bearing means include ball bearings disposed between the thrust washer and the housing.

Claim 7

The sprinkler of claim 5 wherein the ball bearings are disposed in an annular raceway having a V-shaped cross section for permitting dirt and other foreign matter to gravitate away from the ball bearings.

Claim 8

The sprinkler of claim 4 wherein said housing has a second bore in which said tubular shaft is journaled, means on one end of the shaft limiting longitudinal movement thereof in one direction, said bearing means being associated with the other end of the shaft and limiting longitudinal movement thereof in the other direction, said bearing means including ball bearings disposed partially in an annular raceway formed in the housing and partially in an annular raceway in a plate surrounding the tubular shaft, and a retainer secured to said other end of the shaft holding said plate in place, said retainer being engaged by the thrust washer.

Claim 9

The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein said housing has a second bore in which said tubular shaft is journaled, a cross head secured to one end of the shaft and engageable with the housing, said bearing means being associated with the other end of the shaft and including ball bearings disposed in raceways formed in the housing and a plate held in place by a retainer secured to the other end of the tubular shaft, a thrust washer engaging said retainer, said sealing means having a central cylinder portion to which is joined a divergent frustoconical portion having a cylindrical skirt sealingly engaged with said first-named bore, said thrust washer surrounding said central cylindrical portion of the sealing means, said sealing means flexing in response to water pressure and thrusting the tubular shaft in a downstream direction and disengaging said cross head from the housing, and said first-named bore being defined by a cylindrical wall having a shoulder engaged with the sealing means at the juncture of the skirt and frustoconical portion thereof for preventing movement of the skirt downstream.

Claim 10

The sprinkler of claim 8 wherein said cross head supports a pair of oppositely directed tubes, and adjustable nozzle means mounted on the tubes for varying the spray pattern and the amount of water sprayed.