PIPE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM

Abstract

A pipe retrieval system winds a pipe onto a spool. During winding, the pipe is pressed between two sectors of a tensioning device wherein at least one of the sectors is resiliently flexible.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to pipe retrieval systems in general and in particular to systems for retrieving irrigation pipes from a field.

Such systems may be placed at a location in a field to collect and wind pipes onto a reel for reuse or disposal.

SUMMARY

The following embodiment and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

In an embodiment a pipe retrieval system comprises a tensioning device and a spool, an irrigation pipe that is retrieved from a field passes through the tensioning device to the wind on the spool, wherein during winding the pipe is pressed between at least two sectors of the tensioning device.

Typically, a section of the pipe between the tensioning device and spool is under tension during winding and optionally the section urges the sectors to bear against the pipe.

Preferably, at least a portion of the tensioning device is flexible and at least one of the sectors constitutes a part of that portion.

Optionally, the tensioning device comprises two wheels and each sector is located on a respective wheel.

If desired, the tensioning device has a self locking feature which is provided due to the following geometry. Each wheel has an axis of rotation and an imaginary plane includes the axes, wherein at least one wheel is attached to the handle at a point along its axis and the handle is attached to the tensioning device at a point aside of the plane and distal of the spool. Normal forces acting between the wheels when they abut are directed in the plane and thereby will impose upon the wheel attached to the handle a moment force that will self lock the handle in a position which forms the abutment.

Optionally, the wheels are filled with fluid and preferably the fluid is compressed air or gas.

The above embodiments provide also the advantages that a pipe retrieved from a field will be emptied from fluid it may still contain while not damaging any element that may be attached to the pipe. By additionally maintaining tension is a section of the pipe that is winded a larger length of pipe may be winded.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiment described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive. The disclosure, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wagon incorporating pipe retrieval systems in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a section of FIG. 1 showing a pipe retrieval system;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the pipe retrieval system; and

FIG. 4 shows a partial cross sectional view of a section of FIG. 3.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated within the figures to indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Attention is first drawn to FIG. 1. Two pipe retrieval systems 10 being mounted on a wagon 12 are placed by a tractor (not shown) in fixed location in a field 14 to retrieve irrigation pipes 16. The retrieval systems 10 are typically used to collect pipes 16 from the field 14 onto a replaceable spool 18 for reuse or disposal at an end of an irrigation season.

Each pipe 16 extends along a longitudinal axis X thereof which defines a rear direction towards its respective system 10 and an opposing forward direction away from its respective system 10. It should be noted that directional terms appearing throughout the specification and claims, e.g. “forward”, “rear”, etc., (and derivatives thereof) are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

Attention is now additionally drawn to FIGS. 2 to 4. The retrieval system 10 has the spool 18, a tensioning device 20 and an arranger 22 therebetween. The spool 18 is located on an axle 24 of the system 10 which extends along an axis A. A rotation means (not shown), optionally in the form of a motor, may rotate the axle 24 and thereby the spool 18 about the axis A. The tensioning device 20 has a tensioning unit 26 and an arm 28. The arm 28 is optionally attached to the unit 26 and arranger 22 at two pivots 30 that enable the tensioning unit 26 to alter between a folded position (not shown) in which it is compactly received adjacent the arranger 22 and an extended working position (shown in the figures) in which it is distal from the arranger 22. It is noted that the system 10 is also optionally pivotally mounted to the wagon 12 adjacent the spool 18 and therefore in the folded position of the tensioning unit 26 the whole system 10 may be compactly received on the wagon 12.

The tensioning unit 26 has a frame 32, a handle 34 and first and second tensioning means 36, 38 optionally each in the form of a wheel with preferably a flexible tire. The first wheel 36 is attached to the handle 34 at a first join 40 and has an axis of rotation B1 that passes through the first join 40 (FIG. 4). The handle 34 is attached to the frame 32 at a merge 42 and has an axis or rotation G that passes through the merge 42. The second wheel 38 is attached to the frame 32 at a second join 44 and has an axis of rotation B2 that passes through the second join 44. The axes B1, B2 and G are parallel to each other and an imaginary plane P is defined as including the axes B1 and B2. The axis G is located aside the plane P in a direction away from the spool 18.

It is noted that optionally the tires are filled with fluid and preferably the fluid is compressed air or gas. In addition it is noted that other objects may qualify as the tensioning means 36, 38 besides the wheels. For example a tensioning means 36, 38 may be in the form of conveyor belt. Finally it is noted that in an embodiment (not shown) one of the tensioning means of the tensioning unit 26 may be relatively flexible while the other may be substantially non flexible.

The handle 34 is adapted to rotate about the axis G between a non-engaged position (e.g. FIG. 2) and an engaged position (FIGS. 3, 4). In the engaged position the handle 34 urges a first sector 46 on a periphery of the first wheel 36 to bear against a second sector 48 on a periphery of the second wheel 38 at a pre-determined pressure (FIG. 4). In the engaged position, the sectors 46, 48 of the wheels 36, 38 deform resiliently in a substantially elastic manner and mutually impose one upon the other a normal force N that is directed along the plane P. It is noted that the normal force N that is imposed upon the first wheel 36 forms a moment M about the merge 42 and axis G that self-locks the handle 34 in the engaged-position.

As will be descried hereinbelow, any additional force that is imposed upon the tensioning unit 26 during pipe retrieval increases the moment M thereby ensuring that the handle 34 remains in the engaged position throughout pipe retrieval. A limit 50 on the frame 32 limits the extent to which the handle 34 can rotate about the axis G into the engaged position and thereby may define a maximal bearing force between the first and second wheels 36, 38 in the engaged position. In addition it is noted that the above sector definition 46, 48 is fixed in relation to the area where both wheels 36, 38 meet and not in relation to a fixed position on a periphery of each wheel 36, 38. Therefore the rotation of each wheel 36, 38 in the engaged position continuously introduced new portions on the wheel's periphery into the wheel's sector 46, 48.

Before a pipe 16 can be retrieved from a field 14, a user has to attach it to the pipe retrieval system 10. This is done by urging an end of the pipe 16 through the wheels 36, 38 and the arranger 22 and attaching it to the spool 18. By rotating the handle 34 to the engaged position the pipe 16 is pressed between the sectors 46, 48 of the wheels 36, 38 and the system 10 is ready for use. Switching on the motor starts a rotation of the spool 18 about the axis A which thereby urges the pipe 16 rearwardly to wind thereupon. A portion of the arranger 22 through which the pipe 16 passes is adapted to move back and forth along an axis parallel to the axis A in order to substantially evenly arrange the winded pipe 16 upon the spool 18.

As the pipe 16 is urged rearwardly onto the spool 18 it passes and is pressed between the wheel sectors 46, 48. Due to friction, the pipe 16 imposes a rearwardly acting force F upon each wheel 36, 38 at the sector 46, 48 which urges each wheel 36, 38 to rotate about its axis B1 B2 and elastically deform as new portions of each wheel's periphery is rotatively urged into the sector 46, 48. These deformations act, inter alia, to slow the rotation of the wheels and thereby form tension in a section 52 of the pipe 16 that is located between the spool 18 and the tensioning unit 26. This tension ensures that the pipe 16 is tightly winded onto the spool 18 and thereby increases the total length of pipe 16 that may be winded onto the spool 18.

Notably, the pipe 16 may have any number of irrigation elements attached thereto, for example, drip emitters, sprinklers, anti-drip valves, drippers, or pressure regulators that may form projections therealong (not shown). The flexibility of the wheels 36, 38 allows for such projections to pass through the tensioning unit 26 without harming the elements while still pressing upon the pipe to empty it from fluid so that it winds compactly on the spool.

It is noted that in an embodiment of the disclosure (not shown) the tensioning device 20 is coupled to the portion of the arranger 22 that is adapted to move back and forth parallel to the axis A to substantially evenly arrange the pipe 16 upon the spool 18. This embodiment provides a compact arrangement which does not compromise on the functionality of the pipe retrieval system as described hereinabove.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

Although the present embodiment has been described to a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that various alterations and modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A pipe retrieval system comprising a tensioning device and a spool, an irrigation pipe being retrieved from a field passing through the tensioning device to wind on the spool, whereinduring winding the pipe is pressed between at least two sectors of the tensioning device.

2. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein a section of the pipe between the tensioning device and spool is under tension during winding.

3. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 2, wherein during winding the section urges the sectors to bear against each other.

4. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 3, wherein the sectors bear against each other at a location in which the pipe passes.

5. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tensioning device is flexible and at least one of the sectors constitutes a part of that portion.

6. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device comprises two wheels and each sector is located on a respective wheel.

7. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 6, wherein the tensioning device comprises a handle, each wheel having an axis of rotation and an imaginary plane includes the axes, wherein at least one wheel is attached to the handle at a point along its axis and the handle is attached to the tensioning device at a point aside of the plane and distal of the spool.

8. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 6, wherein the wheels are filled with fluid.

9. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 8, wherein the fluid is compressed air or gas.

10. A pipe retrieval system comprising a tensioning device and a spool, an irrigation pipe being retrieved from a field passing through the tensioning device to wind on the spool, wherein during winding the pipe is pressed between at least two sectors of the tensioning device and at least one of the sectors is a flexible wheel.

11. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 10, wherein the wheel is filled with fluid.

12. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 11, wherein the fluid is compressed air or gas.

13. An irrigation pipe retrieval system comprising: a spool configured to receive and wind an irrigation pipe;a tensioning device spaced apart from the spool and configured to apply tension to an irrigation pipe that is being wound on the spool;an arranger positioned between the tensioning device and the spool; andan arm connecting the tensioning device to the arranger; wherein:an irrigation pipe being retrieved passes through the tensioning device to wind on the spool; andduring winding, the irrigation pipe is pressed between at least two sectors of the tensioning device.

14. The irrigation pipe retrieval system according to claim 13, wherein the tensioning device comprises: first and second tensioning wheels in abutment with each other, the first sector belonging to the first tensioning wheel and the second sector belonging to the second tensioning wheel.

15. The irrigation pipe retrieval system according to claim 14, wherein the at least two sectors bear against each other at a location between the wheels through which the pipe passes.

16. The irrigation pipe retrieval system according to claim 14, wherein: the tensioning device comprises a handle;each wheel has an axis of rotation and an imaginary plane includes the axes;at least one wheel is attached to the handle at a point along its axis of rotation; andthe handle is attached to the tensioning device at a point aside of the plane and distal of the spool.

17. The irrigation pipe retrieval system according to claim 14, wherein the wheels are filled with a fluid.

18. The irrigation pipe retrieval system according to claim 17, wherein the fluid is compressed air or gas.

19. The irrigation pipe retrieval system according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the tensioning device is flexible and at least one of the sectors constitutes a part of that portion.