Construction for reducing vortex swirl in rotary water sprinklers

Claim 2

In a rotary water sprinkler of the type including a body having a lower portion defining an inlet water passage for receiving water from a supply pipe, a curved central portion extending upwardly and laterally from the lower portion and within which is a curved central flow passage defined by a rear wall having an outer radius of curvature and a forward wall having an inner radius of curvature, and an upper portion extending from the central portion, a range nozzle attached to the upper portion of the body for ejecting a stream of water over a relatively long distance, and a spreader nozzle attached to the central portion of the body for ejecting a stream of water over a shorter distance, the improvement comprising: forming said central flow passage as a uniformly and upwardly converging passageway of substantially circular cross section whereby water flowing through said passage is accelerated in the longitudinal direction of flow; and providing a bleed opening through said forward wall below said range nozzle and positioned to bleed swirling water particles from the flow through said central flow passage and to channel said swirling water particles to said spreader nozzle whereby the amount of swirling water in the stream ejected through said range nozzle is substantially reduced.

Claim 3

The improvement as defined in claim 1 in which said bleed opening comprises an elongated slot through said forward wall.

Claim 4

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said spreader nozzle is positioned below said range nozzle and in general alignment therewith, and said bleed opening comprises an elongated slot through said forward wall and through which water is supplied to said spreader nozzle.

Claim 5

The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein said body includes a tubular projection extending from said central portion and defining therein a flow conduit from said slot, said spreader nozzle being attached to the end of said projection remote from said slot.

Claim 6

The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said projection extends obliquely from said central portiOn relative to said range nozzle, and said body further includes a frame and an impact drive assembly supported by said frame, said impact drive assembly including an impact arm having a drive spoon attached at one end and disposed to be normally aligned in the path of the stream ejected by said spreader nozzle whereby said sprinkler is driven by the stream from said spreader nozzle.

Claim 7

In a rotary water sprinkler of the type including a body having a lower portion defining an inlet water passage for receiving water from a supply pipe, a curved central portion extending upwardly and laterally from the lower portion and within which is a curved central flow passage defined by a rear wall having an outer radius of curvature and a forward wall having an inner radius of curvature, a range nozzle attached to and projecting from the upper end of the central portion for ejecting a stream of water over a relatively long distance, and a spreader nozzle attached to the body for ejecting a stream of water over a shorter distance, the improvement comprising: forming said central flow passage as a uniformly and upwardly converging passageway of substantially circular cross-section whereby water flowing through said passage is accelerated in the longitudinal direction of flow; and providing a bleed opening through said forward wall below said range nozzle, said bleed opening comprising a slot having substantially parallel sides elongated in the longitudinal direction of travel of water through said central flow passage, and positioned to bleed swirling water particles from the flow through said central flow passage and to channel said swirling water particles to said spreader nozzle thereby to reduce the amount of swirling water ejected by the range nozzle and increase substantially the distance of throw of water ejected through the range nozzle.

Claim 8

In a rotary water sprinkler of the type including a body having a lower portion defining an inlet water passage for receiving water from a supply pipe, a curved central portion extending upwardly and laterally from the lower portion and within which is a curved central flow passage defined by a rear wall having an outer radius of curvature and a forward wall having an inner radius of curvature, a range nozzle attached to and projecting from the upper end of the central portion for ejecting a stream of water over a relatively long distance, and a spreader nozzle attached to the body for ejecting a stream of water over a shorter distance, the improvement comprising: forming said central flow passage as a uniformly and upwardly converging passageway of substantially circular cross-section whereby water flowing through said passage is accelerated in the longitudinal direction of flow; and providing a bleed opening through said forward wall below said range nozzle, said bleed opening comprising a slot having substantially parallel sides elongated in the longitudinal direction of travel of water through said central flow passage, and positioned to bleed swirling water particles from the flow through said central flow passage and to channel said swirling water particles to said spreader nozzle thereby to reduce the amount of swirling water ejected by the range nozzle and increase substantially the distance of throw of water ejected through the range nozzle.

Claim 9

The improvement as defined in claim 6 including a tubular projection extending from said forward wall and defining therein a flow conduit, said bleed opening communicating with said passage through said conduit, and said spreader nozzle being attached to the outer end of said projection.

Claim 10

The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein said tubular projection extends below said range nozzle in general alignment therewith.

Claim 11

The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein said sprinkler includes an impact drive assembly attached to said body for providing incremental rotation of said sprinkler.

Claim 12

The improvement as defined in claim 9 wherein said drive assembly includes an impact arm pivotally attached to said body and carrying a drive spoon at one end, said drive spoon being disposed to normally lie in the path of the stream ejected by said spreader nozzle whereby said sprinkler is driven by the stream from said spreader nozzle.