Broken sprinkler flow restriction or flow shut off suppressor for sprinkler

Abstract

A restriction valve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a valve body adapted to be positioned at an inlet of the sprinkler, wherein the valve body includes a central opening through which water flows into the sprinkler, a rib extending downwardly from the valve body at a location beyond the margin of the central opening, a valve member configured to cooperate with the central opening to open and close the valve, wherein the valve member includes a valve stem extending downwardly from the valve member, and positioned and configured to be movably supported in a guide ring formed at a lower end of the rib, wherein the valve stem is movable vertically to move the valve member to its open and closed positions and a resilient member biasing the valve stem such that the valve member remains in an open position until water pressure pushing against the valve member reaches a predetermined level to move the valve member into the closed position to restrict the flow of water into the sprinkler

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sprinkler for use in an irrigation system comprising:
 a body; 
 a spring biased riser mounted in the body configured and operable to move upward and downward therein; 
 an inlet formed in a bottom of the body configured and operable for connection to a water supply; and 
 a restriction valve positioned in the inlet and operable to move between an open position in which water is supplied to the sprinkler and a closed position in which the flow of water entering the sprinkler is restricted, the restriction valve further comprises:
 a valve body integrated into the body of the sprinkler adjacent to the inlet and including a central opening through which water flows into the sprinkler; 
 a rib extending from the valve body along a longitudinal axis of the valve at a location beyond an inner margin of the central opening; 
 a valve member configured and operative to cooperate with the central opening to open and close the valve; and 
 a resilient member which biases the restriction valve in the open position until a predetermined pressure is applied to the restriction valve to move it to the closed position and to restrict the flow of water in to into the sprinkler body, the predetermined pressure selected based on a relative position of the sprinkler in the irrigation system, 
 
 wherein the valve member further includes a valve stem extending in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the valve from the valve member, and positioned and configured to be movably supported in a guide ring formed at a lower end of the rib, wherein the valve stem is movable vertically to move the valve member to its open and closed positions, 
 the resilient member biasing the valve stem such that the valve member remains in the open position until water pressure pushing against the valve member reaches the predetermined pressure to overcome the bias of the resilient member, and 
 further comprising a plurality of ribs extending from the valve body in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the valve, wherein the plurality of ribs support the guide ring. 
 
     
     
       2. A sprinkler for use in an irrigation system comprising:
 a cylindrical body;   a riser mounted in the body to move upward and downward therein;   an inlet formed in a bottom of the cylindrical body configured and operable for connection to a water supply; and   a restriction valve positioned in the inlet and operable to move between an open position in which water is supplied to the sprinkler and a closed position in which the flow of water entering the sprinkler is restricted, the restriction valve comprise:
 a valve body integrated into the body of the sprinkler adjacent to the inlet and including a central opening through which water flows into the sprinkler; 
 a rib extending from the valve body along a longitudinal axis of the valve at a location beyond an inner margin of the central opening; 
 a valve member configured and operative to cooperate with the central opening to move between the open position and the closed position, the valve member further having a disk with a maximum diameter, the disk shaped to fit into the central opening in the valve body when the valve member is in the closed position, wherein the maximum diameter of the disk is less than that of the central opening such that the flow of water into the sprinkler is restricted; and 
   a resilient member which biases the restriction valve in the open position until a predetermined pressure is applied to the restriction valve to move it to the closed position and to restrict the flow of water into the sprinkler body, the predetermined pressure selected based on a relative position of the sprinkler in the irrigation system,   wherein the valve member further includes a valve stem extending downwardly from the valve member, and positioned and configured to be movably supported in a guide ring formed at a lower end of the rib, wherein the valve stem, is movable vertically to move the valve member to its open and closed positions; and   the resilient member biasing the valve stem such that the valve member remains in the open position until water pressure pushing against the valve member reaches the predetermined pressure to overcome the bias of the resilient member.   
     
     
       3. The sprinkler or claim 2, wherein the valve member further comprises:
 a flange extending from the valve stem below the guide ring, wherein the resilient member is positioned between the flange and the guide ring to bias the valve member in the open position.   
     
     
       4. The sprinkler of claim 2, wherein the resilient member is tensioned to resist compression until the predetermined pressure is exceeded. 
     
     
       5. The sprinkler of claim 2, further comprising indicia identifying the predetermined pressure required to compress the resilient member. 
     
     
       6. A sprinkler for use in an irrigation system comprising:
 a cylindrical body;   a riser mounted in the body to move upward and downward therein;   an inlet formed in a bottom of the cylindrical body configured and operable for connection to a water supply; and   a restriction valve positioned in the inlet and operable to move between an open position in which water is supplied to the sprinkler and a closed position in which the flow of water entering the sprinkler is restricted, the restriction valve comprise:
 a valve body integrated into the body of the sprinkler adjacent to the inlet and including a central opening through which water flows into the sprinkler; 
 a rib extending from the valve body along a longitudinal axis of the valve at a location beyond an inner margin of the central opening; 
 a valve member configured and operative to cooperate with the central opening to open and close the valve; 
   an external thread positioned on an outer periphery of the valve body and configured and operable to screw the restriction valve into the sprinkler body; and   a resilient member which biases the restriction valve in the open position until a predetermined pressure is applied to the restriction valve to move it to the closed position and to restrict the flow of water into the sprinkler body, the predetermined pressure selected based on a relative position of the sprinkler in the irrigation system,   wherein the valve member further includes a valve stem extending in a direct of a longitudinal axis of the valve from the valve member, and positioned and configured to be movably supported in a guide ring formed at a lower end of the rib, wherein the valve stem, is movable vertically to move the valve member to its open and closed positions;   the resilient member biasing the valve stem such that the valve member remains in the open position until water pressure pushing against the valve member reaches the predetermined pressure to overcome the bias of the resilient member, and   the resilient member is tensioned to resist compression until the predetermined pressure is exceeded, the predetermined pressure is selected based on a relative position elevation of the sprinkler irrigation system.   
     
     
       7. A sprinkler for use in an irrigation system comprising:
 a body;   a riser mounted in the body to move upward and downward therein;   an inlet formed in a bottom of the body configured and operable for connection to a water supply; and   a restriction valve positioned in the inlet and operable to move between an open position in which water is supplied to the sprinkler and a closed position in which the flow of water entering the sprinkler is restricted, the restriction valve further comprises:
 a valve body integrated into the body of the sprinkler adjacent to the inlet and including a central opening through which water flows into the sprinkler; 
 a rib extending from the valve body in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the valve at a location beyond an inner margin of the central opening; 
 a valve member configured and operative to cooperate with the central opening to open and close the valve; and 
   a resilient member which biases the restriction valve in the open position until a predetermined pressure is applied to the restriction value to move it to the closed position and to restrict the flow of water into the sprinkler body, the predetermined pressure selected based on a relative position of the sprinkler in the irrigation system,   wherein the valve member further included a valve stem extending downwardly from the valve member, and positioned and configured to be movably supported in a guide ring formed at a lower end of the rib, wherein the valve stem is movable vertically to move the valve member to its open and closed positioned,   the resilient member biasing the valve stem such that the valve member remains in the open position until water pressure pushing against the valve member reaches the predetermined pressure to overcome the bias of the resilient member.