IP Library Granted Patent US 11,684,939
Granted Patent B2
US 11,684,939 · App. 17/450,662 · Granted Jun 27, 2023

Sprinkler with internal compartments

Inventors: James T. Wright, III (Bloomington, MN); Steven C. Renquist (Bloomington, MN)
Assignee: The Toro Company
B05B12/12A01G25/00A01G25/167B05B15/60B05B15/70B05B15/74H04W84/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,684,939
App. No.
17/450,662
Granted
Jun 27, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sprinkler includes a compartment that surrounds its riser portion in an offset or asymmetrical configuration. More specifically, the distance of the compartments walls from those of the riser vary (i.e., increase or decrease) at different locations surrounding the riser. Put another way, the riser is closer to one side of the compartment than other sides of the compartment. This non-concentric configuration allows larger components to fit inside the compartment than would otherwise fit if the riser was symmetrically surrounded by the compartment.

Claims (29)

1. An irrigation sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler riser that rises during irrigation and lowers when irrigation is stopped; and,

a compartment forming a compartment space at least partially positioned around the sprinkler riser;

wherein the compartment space has an inner curved wall adjacent to the sprinkler riser and an outer curved wall spaced apart from the sprinkler riser; and wherein the inner curved wall and the outer curved wall progressively increases and decreases in radial spacing from each other at different radial positions relative to the sprinkler riser;

wherein the compartment space is configured to store removable components of the irrigation sprinkler.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1 , a wireless communication device located in the compartment; the wireless communication device establishing a wireless mesh communication network with other remote wireless communication devices within other sprinklers.

3. The sprinkler of claim 1 , further comprising a check valve and a pressure receptacle located in the compartment.

4. The sprinkler of claim 3 , wherein the pressure receptacle is fixed over an aperture though a side of a housing of the sprinkler riser.

5. The sprinkler of claim 4 , wherein the pressure receptacle further comprises a cavity that is open towards a top of the irrigation sprinkler.

6. The sprinkler of claim 1 , further comprising a cover shaped to removably cover the compartment and that extends entirely around the sprinkler riser.

7. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the compartment contains a pilot valve and a two-wire decoder that is connected to activate the pilot valve.

8. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the compartment contains a removable check valve.

9. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the compartment contains a pilot valve removable from the compartment.

10. An irrigation sprinkler comprising:

a riser housing containing a sprinkler riser that rises during irrigation and lowers when irrigation is stopped; and,

a circular framework that entirely and asymmetrically encompasses the riser housing at a top of the sprinkler; the circular framework at least partially defining a top opening of a crescent shaped compartment configured to store removable sprinkler components at least partially around the riser housing; and,

a compartment cover removably mountable to the circular framework so as to cover the compartment and at least partially encompass the riser housing.

11. The irrigation sprinkler of claim 10 , wherein the compartment cover entirely surrounds a circumference of the riser housing.

12. The irrigation sprinkler of claim 10 , wherein the compartment entirely surrounds a circumference of the riser housing.

13. The irrigation sprinkler of claim 10 , wherein the compartment contains a removable check valve.

14. The irrigation sprinkler of claim 10 , wherein the compartment contains a removable pilot valve.

15. The irrigation sprinkler of claim 10 , wherein the compartment contains a removable two-wire decoder.

16. An irrigation sprinkler comprising:

a riser housing containing a sprinkler riser that rises during irrigation and lowers when irrigation is stopped; and,

a compartment at least partially located around the riser housing; the compartment having a radially curved inner wall and a radially curved outer wall that progressively decrease in distance from each other along a first rotational direction.

17. The sprinkler of claim 16 , wherein the radially inner wall and the radially outer wall decrease in distance from each other along a second rotational direction.

18. The sprinkler of claim 16 , wherein the compartment provides an area configured for storage and installation of removable sprinkler components that extends at least partially around the riser housing.

19. The sprinkler of claim 16 , further comprising a structure located beneath the compartment and configured to support a communication tube for a main valve located within the irrigation sprinkler.

20. The sprinkler of claim 16 , wherein the compartment includes an opening through a bottom floor of the compartment to an area outside of the irrigation sprinkler.

Continuity (7)
Continuation 16742760 · Jan 14, 2020
Continuation 16407567 · May 9, 2019
Continuation 15982863 · May 17, 2018
Continuation 15352422 · Nov 15, 2016
Continuation 14280113 · May 16, 2014
Provisional Application 61824212 · May 16, 2013
Related Publication 20220023894A1 · Jan 27, 2022
Cited By (3)
US 12,343,748 US 12,434,252 US 12,440,855