Irrigation pipe system

Details Irrigation pipe system Irrigation pipe system

1999-11-01

2001-10-16

Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)

Pipe joints or couplings

Irrigation type

C285S360000, C285S376000, C285S401000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06302445

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices for coupling piping and, more particularly, to apparatus for coupling fluid transport piping for irrigation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sprinkler irrigation has over the years replaced many other forms of irrigation methods because it minimizes erosion, prevents many drainage problems, does not require land leveling, and provides light application of moisture for irrigating crops.
Whenever a sprinkler system is referred to by name, the reference is usually made to the manufacturer's brand name. Sprinkler systems are typically classified by the degree of their portability. For example, there are permanent systems, fully portable systems which can be moved from one field to another, and semi-portable systems where the piping is movable but the pumping plant is in a fixed location.
A number of manufacturers currently provide fittings for sprinkler systems. These fittings include, for example, couplers, “L” and “T” shaped pipe connectors, reducers, T-type valves for maintaining hydrants, and valve-opener elbows. Such fittings typically appear every 20 to 40 feet along portable sprinkler laterals and, therefore, enable ready identification of the system's manufacturer.
In some respects, the couplers, as well as other fittings of existing systems possess similar characteristics. For example, most have either one or two replaceable rubber gaskets to prevent the loss of water between the pipe and the coupler when pressure is applied. Nearly all of these gaskets are made to permit water to drain out whenever the line is shut off and the pressure is released.
There are some differences, however, in the way the couplers of different manufactures fasten to a pipe. Some have a latch, others are bolted or welded and still others have one end rolled or pressed into the pipe. On most systems, the coupler makes a flexible joint which allows the sprinkler pipe to bend or form an angle with respect to the coupler. Some flexibility is desirable, particularly on rolling land.
Most couplers also have a guide or guard apron that helps to keep dirt from being scooped up when the pipe is inserted, or moved.
Current use of aluminum pipe couplers for sprinkler lines has evolved into several popular styles, including so-called “drop lock” or “no-latch” couplers and “tow line” or “drag line” couplers. These couplers are fitted with one of two styles of Chevron gaskets: a “drain” gasket which, at a predetermined pressure drop, is designed to leak water through the coupler and a “non drain” gasket which leaks water at a substantially lower pressure. A typical locking mechanism for existing couplers is a latch or band bolted or welded to the male end of a piece of aluminum tubing. Sprinkler pipe fittings are also normally fabricated from cast aluminum or galvanized steel. There are several manufacturers of these fittings, the basic styles of which have been in use since at least as early as 1970. For instance, a representative coupler may be provided with a ¾″ or 1″ female iron pipe thread to facilitate the installation of a metal (usually galvanized steel) riser of about 6″ to 36″ in length for supporting and delivering fluid to sprinklers of varying sizes.
This sprinkler-riser-coupler-aluminum tubing combination is light in weight and is commonly referred to as “hand movable” pipe. Such a system may be manually installed and removed, typically by about three individuals. The “drag line” or “tow line” styles can be pulled by tractor or machinery but it is necessary to manually install and disassemble the systems by two or more individuals.
In either towable or hand movable irrigation systems, the sprinkler coupler member may be provided with laterally projecting wings such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,826. The purpose of such wings is to stabilize the coupler member, and thus protect the riser and sprinkler from damage, as the coupler is drawn along the ground. That is, the wings prevent “riser flop”, i.e., rolling of the coupler member forwardly or rearwardly, during transport of the coupler member which might otherwise expose the riser and/or sprinkler to damage should the sprinkler impact the ground. Existing stabilizing wing designs, however, provide limited impact protection to the coupler member itself.
Existing towable or hand movable irrigation pipe coupler members also have an upwardly projecting, internally threaded, riser connection for threadably receiving the lower end of an externally threaded, sprinkler riser pipe. Among the deficiencies of current internally threaded riser connector designs is that the threaded connection can lose its sealing effect relatively soon after installation. As such, water may drain from the connection after the water supply is shut off, thereby causing water to pool in large areas and volumes around the coupler member. Such circumstances are disadvantageous in terms of water conservation and crop damage.
An advantage exists, therefore, for an irrigation pipe coupler member including means for protecting the coupler member from excessive impact damage as the coupler member is moved along the ground surface.
An further advantage exists for an irrigation pipe coupler member including means for enabling quick connection and disconnection of a sprinkler riser which minimizes water waste and crop damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an irrigation pipe system including a tubular coupler member having a pair of open ends wherein each open end is adapted to receive an end of a respective one of a first and second fluid transport pipe. The ends of the first and second pipes each include an annular recess which together comprise a first pair of annular recesses. The tubular coupler member includes a second pair of annular recesses adapted to align with the first pair of annular recesses to form a pair of annular cavities. The system further comprises a pair of flexible splines disposable through the tubular member and into the pair of annular cavities to releasably secure the first and second pair to the tubular coupler. A pair of gaskets is also disposed between the ends of the first and second pipes and the tubular coupler to prevent fluid leakage between the pipes and the coupler member.
The outer surface of the tubular coupler member preferably includes at least one winglike substantially tangential projection for stabilizing, i.e., preventing tipping, of the coupler member as it is drawn across a ground surface. A sprinkler riser fitting member is disposed on the outer surface of the tubular coupler member generally diametrically opposite the lateral projection(s).
According to a first embodiment of the invention, the sprinkler riser fitting member comprises a cylindrical member terminating in an outwardly directed, substantially annular flange. The flange defines at least one gap for receiving at least one inwardly directed lug of a riser lock member which is attached adjacent a lower end of a sprinkler riser. The at least one lug and the undersurface of the annular flange define cooperating means for enabling the sprinkler riser pipe to be quickly connected to or disconnected from the sprinkler riser fitting by rotating the sprinkler riser less than about one rotation, and preferably less than 180°.
According to a further embodiment, the sprinkler riser fitting means comprises an externally threaded fitting member and an internally threaded riser cap threadably connectable to the fitting member. The riser cap includes a cylindrical member terminating in an outwardly directed, substantially annular flange. The flange may be constructed substantially similar to the aforementioned riser fitting flange and may likewise cooperate with a correspondingly configured riser pipe lock member such as that briefly described above in connection with the first embodiment of the invention. Alternatively, the undersurface of the flange may be provided with one or more stop members. The stop members preferably protrude from the undersurface

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