Patent Application
20160245449
The present invention relates generally to a device for coupling two pipes; more particularly to a device for coupling thin-walled pipes such as irrigation pipe; and most particularly to a device for coupling irrigation pipes in the field while requiring only the use of simple tools.
Farmers historically have had to fight the elements in order to harvest their crops and sell them at the highest possible price. One part of the growing equation is watering the fields. This may be done by any of a number of methods including water delivery via aluminum pipes. These pipes are generally about 20 to 40 feet in length and have diameters that range from 1½ to 12 inches depending upon the application and amount of water needed. Typically, successive pipes are joined by a spigot and bell coupling with the bell housing a rubber gasket to make a water-tight joint between the two pipes. As these pipes are long and cumbersome to move, the aluminum wall of the pipe is very thin in order to make each pipe as light as possible. However, thin-walled pipes pose a significant problem as the wall of the pipe may be so thin that it is readily damaged. Indeed, damage can occur simply from ordinary use, careless handling and deployment of the pipes or even due to vehicles driving over the pipes once the pipes are lying on the ground during use in the field.
When damage occurs there are generally three alternatives to remedy the situation. The first is to simply discard the damaged pipe and replace it with another. While this may solve the immediate problem, this solution is wasteful and would become cost prohibitive due to the additional costs needed to purchase or rent replacement pipes.
A second alternative is to weld the damaged portion of the pipe. However, this requires removal of the pipe from the field so that a highly skilled welder may repair the damaged portion off site. As the aluminum wall is extremely thin, such welding is typically beyond the skill possessed by most farmers. Also, water flow will need to be paused while repairs are made, thus incurring the cost problems associated with the first alternative.
Lastly, a damaged pipe may be repaired by using a specialized tool known in the art as a Henry Pipe Press. The Henry Pipe Press is a hydraulic machine that runs either on electricity or gas and is designed to be operated either in a repair shop or in the field depending on the power source. The press needs to be operated by a trained individual that possesses the required skill acquired through extensive training and practice in the art of making water tight joints. Specifically, the process of making the watertight joint entails placing the ends of the pipe to be repaired into the machine and having the machine make a series of rolled grooves and outward bends and then using the hydraulic pistons on the machine to make a series of bends and rolls to join the two pipes. This procedure is laborious and difficult to perform, especially with longer pipe sections, as the two sections of the pipe must be held straight while the machine performs the work. Thus, to do this in the field is quite difficult and time consuming as the machine takes one skilled operator and two individuals to hold the opposite ends of the pipe being repaired. Moreover, repairs using the Henry Pipe Press cannot be accomplished in the field while the ground is wet or when crops are growing.
In view of the above, it is clear that what is needed in the art is a coupling that can be utilized by one individual in a matter of minutes without the need for specialized training, expensive equipment or transportation of the damaged pipe from the field. The coupling should be light and assemble with very few hand tools and virtually no training.
Briefly described, the present invention is directed to a coupling for joining pipe ends of opposing first and second pipes in end-to-end relation. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the coupling generally comprises a tubular member and a pipe retainer. The tubular member has opposing first and second ends and a sidewall of an intermediate extent thereby defining a hollow interior having a first internal diameter. The first end is adapted to receive and surround the pipe end of the first pipe while the second end is adapted to receive and surround the pipe end of the second pipe. The pipe retainer is configured to secure each respective pipe end within the tubular member. The tubular member may also include an internal annular projection wherein each of the opposing first and second pipe ends may be inserted within the tubular member until each respective tube end abuts the internal annular projection. The tubular member may further include respective first and second annular grooves located proximate respective first and second ends of the tubular member. Each annular groove may be configured to receive a respective pipe seal and the pipe seal may be comprised of an elastomeric material. The tubular member may also have a respective step portion proximate respective first and second ends of the tubular member. Each step portion may define a second internal diameter which is larger than the first internal diameter.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the pipe retainer may comprise a first pipe clamp adapted to be releasably secured to the first pipe, a second pipe clamp adapted to be releasably secured to the second pipe, and a clamp retainer bar having opposing ends with a first bar end removably secured to the first pipe clamp and a second bar end removably secured to the second pipe clamp. Each pipe clamp may further include a flange member wherein respective bar ends are secured to respective flange members. Each bar end may also include an aperture therein wherein each bar end is secured to its respective flange member via a bolt and nut. One or both apertures may be configured as an elongated slot so as to accommodate expansion of the tubular member, the first pipe, the second pipe or any combination thereof. With this embodiment it will become apparent that different pipe materials can be used such as PVC's, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene and all metals. Additionally, with this it will also become apparent that different fittings such as 90 degree and 45 degree offsets as well as tees and reducers can be formed as part of the tubular member.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the pipe retainer may comprise a plurality of threaded compressive members threadably inserted within corresponding threaded holes within the tubular member. The threaded compressive members are adapted to exert a compressional force upon the first and second pipes to releasably secure the pipes within the tubular member. The threaded compressive members may be set screws. The outer surface of the tubular member may also include a flattened portion wherein the threaded holes are located within the flattened portion.
The detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.
By way of example, and referring to
To prevent, or at least minimize the possibility for leakage of fluid, tubular member 20 may be further adapted to receive and house seals 38. It should be noted that tubular member 20 is shown with only one seal in
Tubular member 20 may further include an internal annular projection 42 wherein, in one aspect of the invention, annular projection 42 is located approximately half way along the length of sidewall 28 so as to divide hollow interior 30 in generally equal portions. The position of annular projection 42 may vary to accommodate tees, offsets and reducers that may be formed as part of tubular member 20. Annular projection 42 may be configured to have a thickness T2 which is generally equal to the wall thickness of the irrigation pipe (pipes 16, 18) so as to form a hollow portion having a reduced interior diameter W4 which is generally equal to the internal diameter D2 of pipe 16, 18 (see
Returning now to
Secured between opposing pipe clamps 44, 46 is clamp retainer bar 48. Bar 48 is selected to have a length at least equal to the length of sidewall 28 of tubular member 20 and the combined width W5 of clamps 44, 46. Bar 48 includes an aperture 60 proximate each end wherein each aperture 60 is configured to coincide with the holes within flanges 52, 54 such that bolt 56 passes through a first flange 52 or 54, bar 48, and emerges out of the other of flange 52 or 54 such that nut 58 can be threaded onto bolt 56 so as to sandwich bar 48 between flanges 52 and 54. Alternatively, bar 48 may be positioned on the outward face of either flange 52, 54 before passage of bolt 56 and threading of nut 58 thereto such that the apertures within the bar and the holes within each of flanges 52, 54 may be oriented such that bar 48, when secured to pipe clamps 44, 46 rests along the outer surface of tubular member 20. Using either orientation, clamping pressure of pipe clamp 44 on pipe 16 and pipe clamp 46 on pipe 18 prevent lateral movement of the respective pipes within the individual clamps. Securing bar 48 between the two pipe clamps 44, 46 prevents withdrawal of either pipe 16 or pipe 18 from tubular member 20. In this manner, pipes 16 and 18 are secured in an end-to-end orientation within the tubular member.
Bar 48 may also provide additional support to tubular member 20 to minimize (or more preferably, prevent) flexing of tubular member 20 and joined pipes 16, 18 so as to maintain a fluid-tight fitting between the pipe ends. The apertures within bar 48 may also be formed as elongated slots 60A such that bar 48 is able to accommodate expansion/contraction of tubular member 20, first pipe 16, second pipe 18 or combinations thereof when pipe coupling 10 and pipes 16, 18 are deployed in the field and subject to the various temperature changes experienced during the growing season.
Turning now to
Coupling 10′ includes a pipe retainer 22′ in the form of a threaded compressive member 44′, such as a set screw, adapted to be threadably inserted within corresponding threaded hole 46′ within sidewall 28′ of tubular member 20′. Set screw 44′ is threaded within hole 46′ until the screw impacts pipe 16, 68 to thereby generate a compressional force upon the pipe 16, 18 to thereby prevent lateral movement of the pipe 16, 18 within tubular member 20′. Any number of set screws 44′ may be used so long as these screws generate the requisite compressional force needed to prevent unwanted movement of pipe 16, 68 within tubular member 20′. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that, while described as a set screw, compressive member 44′ may be any suitable device such as, but not limited to, a thumb screw, a machine screw, a bolt, a pipe nipple or the like. Compressive member 44′ may also be a pipe nipple. Similarly, while sidewall 28′ is shown and described as having flattened surfaces 29′, those skilled in the art should recognize that a tubular member having cylindrical sidewalls similar to those shown in
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the present invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.
