Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reissue Patent
1999-10-25
2001-03-20
Osele, Mark A. (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S289000, C156S304200, C156S304300, C156S304600, C156S322000, C156S159000, C156S259000
Reissue Patent
active
RE037097
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for splicing together a pair of drop irrigation hoses and, more specifically, a method for splicing together a pair of drop irrigation hoses using splicing means internal to the pair of hoses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Drip irrigation technology is employed throughout the world for use in the agricultural industry. Hoses for performing drop irrigation are typically installed in fields, orchards, vineyards, nurseries, greenhouses, or anywhere in which drip precipitation is desired, both above and below the ground. An exemplary example of a plastic drip irrigation hose is T-TAPE TSX, manufactured by T-Systems International, Inc., San Diego, Calif.
Drip irrigation hose can generally be classified into two types: hose having discrete emitters and hose having continuous, integral emitters. An example of a drip irrigation hose having discrete emitters is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,531. An example of a drop irrigation hose having continuous, integral emitters is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,051.
In the use of all types of drip irrigation hoses, it is commonly necessary to splice together a pair of hoses. Several techniques are employed to splice irrigation hoses together. One technique comprises splicing hoses together by using wire ties to secure a piece of rigid tubing inserted inside both hoses. A wire tie is wrapped several times around each hose over the section of the hose that overlaps the rigid tubing and the wire tie is twisted to form a water-tight seal. Problems with this technique are that the rigid tubing causes a substantial deformity in the hoses at the splice and the wire ties may work their way loose over time, thereby destroying the integrity of the water-tight seal.
Another technique is splicing together drip irrigation hoses using a screw-on connector. An internally threaded connector is fit over the outside of each of the irrigation hoses. An externally threaded cylindrical insert is then inserted into both ends of the hoses. The threads on each end of the insert are diametrically oriented. The outer connectors are threaded onto the insert with the irrigation hoses frictionally and engageably squeezed between each of the outer connectors and the insert to form a water-tight seal. A problem with this technique is that a substantial deformity is formed in the hoses at the splice.
Therefore, what is needed is a technique for splicing together drip irrigation hoses which maintains a permanent water-tight seal and does not result in a substantial deformity at the splice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention enables the above problems to be overcome by providing a method for splicing drip irrigation hoses using splicing means internal to the hoses. The splicing means only bonds with one inside surface of the irrigation hoses and does not affect any other inside surface of the hoses.
An embodiment of the present invention is a method for splicing together a pair of drip irrigation hoses using splicing means internal to the pair of hoses. The pair of hoses are joined in axial alignment to form a junction with the splicing means interposed internal to each hose. The splicing means is bonded to an inside surface of each hose to fashion the pair of hoses and splicing means into a unitary structure using means for fusing the splicing means to another surface. A seal is formed using means for sealing circumferential at the junction to create a water-tight seal.
An embodiment of the present invention is also a method for splicing together a pair of drop irrigation hoses using a splicing insert internal to the pair of hoses. Each hose is preheated. Approximately half of the splicing insert is inserted into one hose. The pair of hoses are connected by inserting the other half of the splicing insert into the other hose, the pair of hoses being axially aligned and forming a junction. The pair of hoses are heated around the junction to fuse the splicing insert to an inside surface of each hose. The junction is fused circumferentially to create a primary water-tight seal.
Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein as shown and described only embodiments of the invention by way of illustration of the best modes are contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
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Avenell Scott
Daigle Harold
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Osele Mark A.
T-Systems International
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