Rotating nozzle for agricultural crop sprayer

1 . A nozzle assembly for use with an agricultural crop sprayer, the nozzle assembly comprising:

a nozzle body;

a bearing secured inside the nozzle body, wherein the nozzle body and bearing together define a circular aperture; and

a turbine element journaled inside the bearing, the turbine element defining a shoulder having a diameter greater than a diameter of the aperture, the turbine element defining an internal passage configured to convey a fluid, the internal passage having a rifled profile, wherein the turbine element comprises a nozzle tip having a nozzle opening formed in an end face of the nozzle tip, the nozzle opening being in fluid communication with the internal passage; wherein the turbine element defines at least one radially offset channel extending through the shoulder outward from the internal passage.

2 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the turbine element has a generally cylindrical exterior surface.

3 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle body defines a first annular shelf, and wherein the bearing abuts against the first annular shelf to prevent longitudinal movement of the bearing.

4 . The nozzle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the nozzle body defines a second annular shelf coaxial with the first annular shelf, and wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises an annular seal within the nozzle body and abutting the second annular shelf to retain the bearing in the nozzle body.

5 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the turbine element defines a circumferential groove, and wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises a retaining clip in the circumferential groove, the retaining clip operable to prevent longitudinal displacement of the turbine element with respect to the aperture.

6 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rifled profile extends to the end face.

7 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rifled profile comprises a plurality of radially directed channels extending to the end face.

8 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the turbine element is configured to rotate inside the bearing around a rotational axis thereof, the rotational axis aligned with the internal passage.

9 . The nozzle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rifled profile is configured to discharge jets of the fluid off-center from the rotational axis of the turbine element.

10 . A nozzle assembly for use with an agricultural crop sprayer, the nozzle assembly comprising:

a nozzle body;

a bearing secured inside the nozzle body and defining a circular aperture;

a turbine element journaled inside the bearing, the turbine element defining an internal passage configured to convey a fluid, the internal passage having a rifled profile, the turbine element comprising lugs on a circumferential face; and

a nozzle tip coupled to the turbine element, wherein the nozzle tip is in fluid communication with the internal passage;

wherein the lugs are configured for keying with the nozzle tip.

11 . The nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the lugs are dove-tailed.

12 . The nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the nozzle tip defines a nozzle opening formed in an end face of the nozzle tip, wherein the nozzle opening is in fluid communication with the internal passage.

13 . A nozzle assembly for use with an agricultural crop sprayer, the nozzle assembly comprising:

a nozzle body;

a bearing secured inside the nozzle body and defining a circular aperture; and

a nozzle tip journaled inside the bearing, the nozzle tip having a nozzle opening formed in an end face of the nozzle tip, the nozzle tip defining a fluid-conveying passage having a surface profile configured to interact with a fluid passing through the passage to apply a torque upon the nozzle tip, wherein the surface profile defines a plurality of radially offset vanes extending outward from the nozzle opening.

14 . The nozzle assembly of claim 13 , wherein the surface profile is rifled.