Sprinkler apparatus and system for irrigation

Abstract

A sprinkler apparatus, a flow rate control valve assembly, and a sprinkler irrigation system for providing an even distribution of water across an asymmetrically shaped water receiving area. The sprinkler apparatus comprises a pop-up sprinkler head with a base housing for confiningly receiving a pressurized water flow that actuates a nozzle housing slidingly and rotationally cooperating with the base housing to pop-up into an operating position for discharge of water through at least one pair of nozzle assemblies. The pair of nozzle assemblies comprise an upper nozzle assembly and a lower nozzle assembly near the top end of the nozzle housing. A flow rate control valve assembly comprises a flow control valve assembly that can be coupled to a pop-up sprinkler head to supply the pressurized water flow.

1 . A sprinkler apparatus comprising:
 (a) a pop-up sprinkler head comprising a base housing configured to confiningly receive a pressurized water flow, the pressurized water flow actuating a nozzle housing coupled to the base housing to pop-up into an operating position for discharge of water through at least one nozzle assembly disposed at a top end of the nozzle housing, the at least one nozzle assembly achieving a substantially uniform spray pattern; and   (b) a flow control valve assembly fluidly coupled to the pop-up sprinkler head to controllably supply the pressurized water flow, the flow control valve assembly comprising a water inlet fluidly coupled to a water supply and a water outlet fluidly coupled to the base housing of the pop-up sprinkler head, the water outlet cooperatively engaging with a rotary disc valve having a tapered passage wherein sliding rotation of the rotary disc valve incrementally adjusts the valve between an opened position and a closed position to control the pressurized water flow through the water outlet to the base housing.   
     
     
         2 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve drive mechanism comprising a motor driven transmission and a drive train adapted for operatively rotating the rotary disc valve relative to the water outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve drive mechanism is operatively coupled to a programmable controller. 
     
     
         4 . A sprinkler apparatus comprising:
 (a) a pop-up sprinkler head comprising a base housing configured to confiningly receive a pressurized water flow, the pressurized water flow actuating a nozzle housing coupled to the base housing to pop-up into an operating position for discharge of water through at least one pair of nozzle assemblies, the at least one pair of nozzle assemblies comprising an upper nozzle assembly and a lower nozzle assembly at a top end of the nozzle housing, wherein the upper nozzle assembly responsive to the rate of pressurized water flow distends to vary the wetted radius of discharged water, and wherein the lower nozzle assembly comprises a vertical slit-shaped aperture through which water is discharged in a curtain effect, the at least one pair of nozzle assemblies together achieving a substantially uniform elliptical spray pattern; and   (b) a flow control valve assembly fluidly coupled to the pop-up sprinkler head to controllably supply the pressurized water flow.   
     
     
         5 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the upper nozzle assembly comprises a rigid outer frame and a resilient inner nozzle positioned therein, the diameter of the inner nozzle being smaller than the rigid outer frame to provide space for the inner nozzle to distend to a maximum orifice size determined by the circumference of the outer frame, the resilient inner nozzle responsive to the rate of pressurized water flow to distend up to the maximum orifice size to vary the wetted radius of discharged water from the upper nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the resilient inner nozzle is beveled to change the distribution of water in the discharged spray. 
     
     
         7 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the distribution of water in the discharged spray is biased to the outermost end of the spray. 
     
     
         8 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the resilient inner nozzle is distendable to allow a wetted radius ranging from about 6 feet to about 125 feet. 
     
     
         9 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the lower nozzle assembly is sized to allow a wetted radius ranging up to about 20 feet. 
     
     
         10 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle housing is sized to slidingly couple with the base housing to pop-up into the operating position or retract into a nested position, the nozzle housing having a bottom end comprising a plurality of orifices to allow passage of the pressurized water flow through the nozzle housing to discharge from the nozzle assemblies at the top end of the nozzle housing, wherein the pressurized water flow received into the base housing is greater than the pressurized water flow through the nozzle housing to create a pressure differential that actuates the nozzle housing to slidingly pop-up into the operating position. 
     
     
         11 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the nozzle housing is biased in a downward position to maintain the nested position when inoperative. 
     
     
         12 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to the nozzle housing, the drive mechanism comprising a motor driven transmission and a drive train adapted for operatively rotating the nozzle housing within the base housing. 
     
     
         13 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the drive mechanism is operatively coupled to a programmable controller. 
     
     
         14 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the flow control valve assembly comprises a water inlet fluidly coupled to a water supply and a water outlet fluidly coupled to the pop-up sprinkler head, the water outlet cooperatively engaging with a rotary disc valve which slidingly rotates between an opened position and a closed position to control the pressurized water flow through the water outlet to the pop-up sprinkler head. 
     
     
         15 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the rotary disc valve comprises a tapered passage extending from the opened position to the closed position, whereby the pressurized water flow can be incrementally adjusted between the opened and closed positions. 
     
     
         16 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising a valve drive mechanism comprising a motor driven transmission and a drive train adapted for operatively rotating the rotary disc valve relative to the water outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the valve drive mechanism is operatively coupled to a programmable controller. 
     
     
         18 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an in-ground housing configured to receive and house the pop-up sprinkler head, the in-ground housing comprising a tubular body having a water inlet disposed along the body for connection to the pop-up sprinkler head housed within, a removable lid with an opening sized to allow the pop-up sprinkler head to pop-up therethrough when in an operating position, and a power connection means disposed at a bottom end of the tubular body for connection to the pop-up sprinkler head housed within. 
     
     
         19 . The sprinkler apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the in-ground housing further comprises a self-draining valve to allow water contained within the housing to be drained. 
     
     
         20 . A sprinkler apparatus comprising:
 (a) a base housing configured to confiningly receive a pressurized water flow;   (b) a nozzle housing coupled to the base housing, the nozzle housing sized to slidingly couple with the base housing to pop-up into an operating position or retract into a nested position;   (c) an upper nozzle assembly positioned at a top end of the nozzle housing, the upper nozzle assembly comprising a rigid outer frame and a resilient inner nozzle positioned therein, the diameter of the inner nozzle being smaller than the rigid outer frame to provide space for the inner nozzle to distend to a maximum orifice size determined by the circumference of the outer frame, the resilient inner nozzle responsive to the rate of pressurized water flow to distend up to the maximum orifice size to vary the wetted radius of discharged water from the upper nozzle assembly;   (d) a lower nozzle assembly positioned below the upper nozzle assembly at the top end of the nozzle housing, the lower nozzle assembly comprising a vertical slit-shaped aperture through which water is discharged in a curtain effect; and   (e) a flow control valve assembly fluidly coupled to the base housing to controllably supply the pressurized water flow; wherein the upper and lower nozzle assemblies together achieve a substantially uniform elliptical spray pattern.   
     
     
         21 .- 48 . (canceled)