Granted Patent B2

US 12,686,024 · App. 18/178,015 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Inventor: Michael A. McAfee (Tucson, AZ)

Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation

B05B12/087B05B15/622

Abstract

Claims (47)

1 . An irrigation device comprising:

a housing having an inlet;

a riser movable relative to the housing between a retracted position and an extended position;

a retainer secured in the riser;

a flow tube extending through the retainer and configured to move relative to the retainer;

a valve coupled to the riser, the valve closing the inlet when the riser is in the retracted position;

an axial gap in the riser spacing the valve axially away from the retainer; and

a seat positioned in the axial gap, the seat adjustably mounted to the valve such that an axial position of the seat relative to the flow tube is adjustable, the flow tube movable relative to the seat to control fluid flow into the flow tube,

wherein adjusting the axial position of the seat adjusts a maximum pressure of the fluid flowing beyond the flow tube.

2 . The irrigation device of claim 1 wherein the valve defines a socket with internal threads, and a shaft extending from the seat includes external threads that engage the internal threads of the socket to adjustably mount the seat to the valve.

3 . The irrigation device of claim 2 wherein the shaft carries a first stop and a second stop, the first stop limiting axial movement of the seat toward the valve and the second stop limiting axial movement of the seat away from the valve.

4 . The irrigation device of claim 2 further comprising a clip attached to the shaft, the clip limiting axial movement of the seat relative to the valve.

5 . An irrigation device comprising:

a housing having an inlet;

a riser movable relative to the housing between a retracted position and an extended position;

a retainer secured in the riser;

a flow tube extending through the retainer and configured to move relative to the retainer;

a valve coupled to the riser, the valve closing the inlet when the riser is in the retracted position;

an axial gap spacing the valve from the retainer; and

a seat positioned in the axial gap, the seat adjustably mounted to the valve such that an axial position of the seat relative to the flow tube is adjustable, the flow tube movable relative to the seat to control fluid flow into the flow tube,

wherein the valve defines a socket with internal threads, and a shaft extending from the seat includes external threads that engage the internal threads of the socket to adjustably mount the seat to the valve,

wherein the shaft includes a spacing portion that supports the seat away from the valve and in the axial gap.

6 . The irrigation device of claim 5 wherein the spacing portion of the shaft includes a stop, the stop inhibiting the seat from contacting the valve.

7 . The irrigation device of claim 1 further comprising a shaft extending from the seat and through an opening in the valve, an end of the shaft opposite the seat includes a driver used to rotate the shaft to adjust the position of the seat relative to the valve.

8 . The irrigation device of claim 1 wherein the seat includes a driver used to rotate the seat to adjust the position of the seat relative to the valve.

9 . An irrigation device comprising:

a housing having an inlet;

a riser movable relative to the housing between a retracted position and an extended position;

a retainer secured in the riser;

a flow tube extending through the retainer and configured to move relative to the retainer;

a valve coupled to the riser, the valve closing the inlet when the riser is in the retracted position;

an axial gap in the riser spacing the valve axially away from the retainer; and

a seat positioned in the axial gap, the seat adjustably mounted to the valve such that an axial position of the seat relative to the flow tube is adjustable, the flow tube movable relative to the seat to control fluid flow into the flow tube,

wherein the valve includes a body to which the seat is mounted, the valve further includes a seal attached to the body to seal the inlet of the housing when the riser is in the retracted position.

10 . The irrigation device of claim 1 wherein the seat has an outer annular edge, the annular edge and the riser defining an unobstructed flow path into the flow tube.

11 . The irrigation device of claim 10 wherein the outer annular edge of the seat is frustoconical.

12 . The irrigation device of claim 1 wherein the valve is in engagement with a shaft extending from the seat to adjustably mount the seat to the valve,

wherein the shaft supports the seat away from the valve and in the axial gap.

13 . The irrigation device of claim 5 wherein the seat includes a driver used to rotate the seat to adjust the position of the seat relative to the valve.

14 . The irrigation device of claim 9 wherein the valve defines a socket with internal threads, and a shaft extending from the seat includes external threads that engage the internal threads of the socket to adjustably mount the seat to the valve.

15 . The irrigation device of claim 9 further comprising a shaft extending from the seat and through an opening in the valve, an end of the shaft opposite the seat includes a driver used to rotate the shaft to adjust the position of the seat relative to the valve.

16 . The irrigation device of claim 9 wherein the seat includes a driver used to rotate the seat to adjust the position of the seat relative to the valve.

17 . The irrigation device of claim 9 wherein the seat has an outer annular edge, the annular edge and the riser defining an unobstructed flow path into the flow tube.

18 . The irrigation device of claim 9 wherein valve is in engagement with a shaft extending from the seat to adjustably mount the seat to the valve,

wherein the shaft supports the seat away from the valve and in the axial gap.

19 . The irrigation device of claim 5 wherein the seat includes a driver used to rotate the seat to adjust the position of the seat relative to the valve.

20 . The irrigation device of claim 5 wherein the shaft carries a first stop and a second stop, the first stop limiting axial movement of the seat toward the valve and the second stop limiting axial movement of the seat away from the valve.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (400)