IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,186,766
Granted Patent B2
US 12,186,766 · App. 17/523,550 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Nozzle and sprinkler for center pivot end

Inventors: Lee A. Perkins (Lowden, WA); Craig B. Nelson (Walla Walla, WA); Loren Vander Griend (Walla Walla, WA)
Assignee: NELSON IRRIGATION CORPORATION
B05B1/267A01G25/092B05B1/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,186,766
App. No.
17/523,550
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sprinkler nozzle is configured for a sprinkler positioned at a distal end of a center pivot irrigation system. The sprinkler nozzle includes a connection part securable to the sprinkler, and a nozzle opening downstream of the connection part. A nozzle opening downstream of the connection part is part-toroidal shaped and partially blocked or skewed to control water flow to portions of the deflector plate according to a desired wetted area. The part-toroidal shape spans an arc less than 360 degrees. The nozzle enables a custom designed water application to complement the other sprinklers that are on the pivot and can be shaped to also apply water a distance beyond the end of the pivot pipe to match the application rate of the sprinklers along the pivot pipe.

Claims (26)

1. A sprinkler nozzle for a sprinkler positioned at a distal end of a center pivot irrigation system, the center pivot irrigation system including a pivot pipe rotatably coupled with a center pivot and a plurality of sprinklers mounted along the pivot pipe, the sprinkler nozzle being cooperable with a deflector plate of the sprinkler and comprising:

a connection part securable to the sprinkler; and

a nozzle opening downstream of the connection part, the nozzle opening defining an outer end of a flow path before impacting the deflector plate, wherein the nozzle opening through which water flows before impacting the deflector plate is part-toroidal shaped and partially blocked or skewed to control water flow to portions of the deflector plate according to a desired wetted area such that a width of the nozzle opening varies circumferentially and flow through the nozzle opening is thereby not uniform across the nozzle opening, and wherein the part-toroidal shaped opening spans an arc less than 360 degrees,

wherein the partially blocked or skewed part-toroidal shape of the nozzle opening is defined by a closed center portion having a radius, and wherein at least a portion of a radial width of the nozzle opening is greater than the radius of the closed center portion.

2. A sprinkler nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle opening includes a block member that cuts across the part-toroidal shaped opening and obstructs water flow to a portion of the deflector plate.

3. A sprinkler nozzle according to claim 2 , wherein the part-toroidal shaped opening includes a part-circular perimeter, and wherein the block member is positioned across a segment of the part-circular perimeter.

4. A sprinkler nozzle according to claim 3 , wherein the block member is disposed on a distal end side of the nozzle opening.

5. A sprinkler nozzle according to claim 4 , wherein the part-toroidal shaped opening is canted relative to a longitudinal axis of the pivot pipe.

6. A sprinkler nozzle according to claim 2 , comprising a plurality of block members that cut across the part-toroidal shaped opening.

7. A sprinkler nozzle according to claim 6 , wherein the part-toroidal shaped opening includes a part-circular perimeter, and wherein the block members are positioned across segments of the part-circular perimeter.

8. A sprinkler nozzle according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of block members comprise block members positioned at 90 degrees and 270 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the pivot pipe.

9. A sprinkler nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the part-toroidal shaped opening spans an arc between 240-270 degrees.

10. A sprinkler nozzle for a sprinkler positioned at a distal end of a center pivot irrigation system, the center pivot irrigation system including a pivot pipe rotatably coupled with a center pivot and a plurality of sprinklers mounted along the pivot pipe, the sprinkler nozzle being cooperable with a deflector plate of the sprinkler and comprising:

a connection part securable to the sprinkler; and

a nozzle opening downstream of the connection part, the nozzle opening defining an outer end of a flow path before impacting the deflector plate, wherein the nozzle opening through which water flows before impacting the deflector plate is part-toroidal shaped and partially blocked or skewed to control water flow to portions of the deflector plate according to a desired wetted area, and wherein the part-toroidal shaped opening spans an arc less than 360 degrees,

wherein the part-toroidal shaped opening is skewed such that the nozzle opening is an oblong part-toroidal shape,

wherein the skewed part-toroidal shape of the nozzle opening is defined by a closed center portion having a radius, and wherein at least a portion of a radial width of the nozzle opening is greater than the radius of the closed center portion.

11. A sprinkler nozzle according to claim 10 , wherein the oblong part-toroidal shape includes a larger opening on a distal end side.

12. A sprinkler comprising:

a main body connectable to a source of water under pressure;

the sprinkler nozzle of claim 1 secured to the main body; and

a deflector plate positioned facing the sprinkler nozzle downstream of the sprinkler nozzle.

13. A center pivot irrigation system comprising:

a center pivot;

a pivot pipe rotatably coupled with the center pivot; and

a plurality of sprinklers installed along a length of the pivot pipe, wherein the sprinkler of claim 12 is positioned adjacent a distal end of the pivot pipe.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2021
From: PERKINS, LEE A.; NELSON, CRAIG B.; VANDER GRIEND, LOREN
To: NELSON IRRIGATION CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058076/0031 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63119826 · Dec 1, 2020
Related Publication 20220168759A1 · Jun 2, 2022
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