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An irrigation sprinkler unit includes a tubular housing enclosing a speed reducing drive which is driven by a water actuated turbine wheel and rotates a rotary nozzle head at a substantially slower speed. The drive also rotates a tubular valve member within an annular valve body within the housing,

An irrigation sprinkler unit includes a tubular housing enclosing a speed reducing drive which is driven by a water actuated turbine wheel and rotates a rotary nozzle head at a substantially slower speed. The drive also rotates a tubular valve member within an annular valve body within the housing, and the valve member and valve body have cooperating radial ports which automatically and continuously vary the flow rate of water through the housing for continuously varying the radial distance of a water stream discharged from the nozzle head.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An irrigation sprinkler unit comprising a housing, a rotary valve member supported for rotation within said housing, a water activated rotary turbine wheel disposed within said housing, a speed reducing drive connecting said turbine wheel to said valve member for rotating sai

What is claimed is: 1. An irrigation sprinkler unit comprising a housing, a rotary valve member supported for rotation within said housing, a water activated rotary turbine wheel disposed within said housing, a speed reducing drive connecting said turbine wheel to said valve member for rotating said valve member at a speed substantially slower than a speed of said turbine wheel in response to the flow of water through said housing, a passage for directing water flowing through said housing, said rotary valve member having a portion variably restricting the flow of water through said passage while said valve member is rotating at said substantially slower speed for automatically and continuously varying the flow rate of water through said housing, a nozzle head member connected to said valve member for rotation therewith, and said head member defining at least one nozzle orifice for discharging water flowing through said housing in a water stream forming a spray pattern. 2. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 1 and including an annular non-rotating valve body confined within said housing and surrounding said rotary valve member, and said valve member and said valve body having radial ports cooperating to vary the flow rate of water through said housing in response to rotation of said valve member. 3. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve member includes a tubular portion having a set of axially spaced said radial ports. 4. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotary valve member includes an upper stud portion with external threads for attaching said head member to said valve member. 5. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 4 wherein said stud portion is integrally connected to said rotary valve member, and said valve member is integrally connected to a lower flange supporting gears of said speed reducing drive. 6. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 1 and including an annular valve body within said housing and defining an annular chamber, said valve body having a top wall with circumferentially spaced ports connected to said chamber, and said valve body including an inner cylindrical wall having circumferentially spaced said ports and supporting said valve member for rotation. 7. An irrigation sprinkler unit comprising a tubular housing having a lower end portion adapted to receive a supply of water, a speed reducing drive within said housing and having a lower input shaft connected to a turbine wheel positioned to rotate in response to water flowing through said housing, a rotary valve member driven by said speed reducing drive at a speed substantially slower than a speed of said turbine wheel, a stationary valve member adjacent said rotary valve member and confined within said housing, a nozzle head member connected to said rotary valve member for rotation therewith, said head member having at least one nozzle orifice for discharging a water stream, and said rotary valve member and said stationary valve member cooperating to vary automatically and continuously the flow rate of water through said housing in response to rotation of said rotary valve member to provide for continuously varying the radial distance of the water stream discharged from said orifice in said nozzle head. 8. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said stationary valve member comprises an annular valve body surrounding said rotary valve member, and said rotary valve member and said valve body have radial ports cooperating to vary the flow rate of water through said housing in response to rotation of said rotary valve member. 9. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 8 wherein said rotary valve member includes a tubular portion having a set of axially spaced said radial ports. 10. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said rotary valve member includes an upper stud portion with external threads for attaching said head member to said rotary valve member. 11. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said stud portion is integrally connected to said rotary valve member, and said rotary valve member is integrally connected to a lower flange supporting at least one gear of said speed reducing drive. 12. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said stationary valve member comprises an annular said valve body within said housing and defining an annular chamber, said valve body having a top wall with circumferentially spaced ports connected to said chamber, and said valve body including an inner cylindrical wall having circumferentially spaced said ports connected to said chamber and supporting said rotary valve member for rotation. 13. An irrigation sprinkler unit comprising a housing, a rotary valve member supported for rotation within said housing, a water activated rotary turbine wheel disposed within said housing, a speed reducing drive connecting said turbine wheel to said valve member for rotating said valve member at a speed substantially slower than a speed of said turbine wheel in response to the flow of water through said housing, a passage for directing water flowing through said housing while said valve member is rotating at said substantially slower speed, said valve member having a portion variably restricting the flow of water through said passage in response to rotation of said valve member for automatically and continuously varying the flow rate of water through said housing, a nozzle head member supported for rotation and connected to receive water from said rotary valve member, and said head member defining at least one nozzle orifice for discharging water flowing into said head member in a water stream forming a spray pattern. 14. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 13 and including an annular valve body surrounding said rotary valve member, and said valve member and said valve body having radial ports cooperating to vary the flow rate of water through said housing in response to rotation of said valve member. 15. A sprinkler unit as defined in claim 13 and including an annular valve body within said housing and defining an annular chamber, said valve body having a top wall with circumferentially spaced ports connected to said chamber, and said valve body including an inner cylindrical wall having circumferentially spaced said ports and supporting said valve member for rotation.