IRRIGATION PIPE COUPLING
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a coupling for use in an irrigation system.
[0002] Such a coupling may be used between an irrigation pipe and a main
distribution pipe from which it branches off.
[0003] US Patent Application No. 20070074776, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference, describes that the walls of a pipe under internal
hydrostatic pressure experience, under ideal conditions, twice the stress in the
circumferential direction as they do in the longitudinal direction.
[0004] In some cases, this should be taken into account in the coupling.
SUMMARY
[0005] 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,
[0006] In an embodiment is disclosed a coupling between a lay fiat irrigation pipe
and an irrigation element, the coupling comprises an inner member attached to a wall of
the pipe and an outer member, the inner member comprises a bulge and a bore, the bore is
formed about an axis in the inner member, and the bulge at least partially surrounds the
axis, the outer member comprises a clamp and a shank, the shank is retained in the bore
of the inner member, and the clamp at least partially surrounds a base of the shank,
wherein at least a portion of the bulge is located between the shank and the clamp.
[0007] Optionally, an imaginary plane perpendicular to the axis passes through the
bulge and the clamp.
[0008] Typically, when the pipe is not under internal fluid pressure the imaginary
plane passes through a gap between the bulge and the clamp.
[0009] Preferably, when the pipe is under a given internal fluid pressure at least a
portion of the bulge abuts the clamp.
[0010] Optionally, the bulge projects a distance smaller than 5 mm out of the pipe.
[0011] Further optionally, the shank is threadingly retained in the bore.
[0012] If desired, the inner member is bonded to the wall and formed from polyolefin
material.
[0013] 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
[0014] 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:
[0015] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a pipe incorporating couplings in
accordance with the present disclosure;
[0016] Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional view of an outer member of the coupling taken
in the plane E-E in Fig. 1;
[0017] Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional view of an inner member of the coupling taken
in the plane E-E in Fig. 1;
[0018] Fig. 4 shows a partial cross sectional view of the pipe taken through the
coupling in the plane E-E in Fig. 1; and
[0019] Fig. 5 shows a section of Fig. 4.
[0020] 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
[0021] Attention is first drawn to Fig. 1 showing a pipe 10 having an axis A which
defines a longitudinal direction therealong and a circumferential direction C thereabout.
The pipe 10 has an axially extending lumen 12 and a wall 14 that surround the lumen 12.
Three couplings 16, extending each along an axis B, are attached at longitudinally spaced
apart locations to the wall 14. The pipe 10 is of a lay-flat type which when not in use
under internal fluid pressure and/or when rolled on a reel may have a shape of a generally
flat strip (not shown). If the pipe 10 has a cylindrical shape under internal fluid pressure
(as shown) then the axis B radially intersects the longitudinal axis A. It is noted that the
pipe 10 may have a shape other than cylindrical under internal fluid pressure.
[0022] An out and an in direction of the axis B is defined respectively out of and into
the pipe 10. It should be noted that the directional terms appearing throughout the
specification and claims are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit
the scope of the appended claims. The terms "above", "up", "out" (and derivatives
thereof) define similar directions; and the terms "down", "below", "lower", "in" (and
derivatives thereof) define similar directions. In addition it is noted that each member of
the coupling 16, even when shown by itself, will be described herein in its respective
orientation in the coupling 16 and therefore in relation to the axis B.
[0023] Attention is drawn to Fig. 2. An outer member 18 of the coupling 16 has a
body 20, a shank 22, a clamp 24 and a cavity 26. The cavity 26 extends along the axis B
through the outer member 18 and opens out to an outer end and an inner end of the outer
member 18. The body 20 extends along the axis B from the outer end to an inner body
end 28. The shank 22 extends inwardly from the inner body end 28 and a shank thread
30 is formed on a peripheral face of the shank 22. The clamp 24 extends inwardly from
the inner body end 28 and surrounds a base 32 of the shank 22. An inward open annular
groove 34 is formed between the clamp 24 and the base 32. The outer member 18 is
adapted to connect at an outer portion thereof to an irrigation element (not shown). The
irrigation element may be any element used in irrigation such as a drip irrigation pipe, an
irrigation fitting, a sprinkler, a valve or a pressure regulator.
[0024] Attention is drawn to Fig. 3. An inner member 36 of the coupling 16 has a
core 38, an annular wing 40 and a bore 42. The core 38 extends along the axis B and the
bore 42 extends axially therethrough and opens out to an outer end and an inner end of
the inner member 36. A bore thread 44 is formed on a peripheral face of the bore 42.
The wing 40 extends away from an upper potion of the core 38 in a direction away from
the axis B and has an outer surface 46 and an inner surface 48. The outer surface 46
faces outwardly and the inner surface 48 faces inwardly. A bulge 50 of the core 38,
which is located about the axis B, projects axially out and above the outer surface 46 of
the wing 40.
[0025] Attention is now drawn to Figs. 4 and 5 that show, inter alia, a partial cross
section of the wall 14 of the pipe 10 along the circumferential direction C. The wall 14
and the outer surface 46 of the wing 40 are attached at an attachment region 52 and a
portion the bulge 50 projects slightly axially above the wall 14 a distance d. Optionally,
the distance d is between 0.5 and 5 mm.
[0026] In an assembled position of the coupling 16 (as shown), the shank 22 is
releasably threadingly retained in the bore 42 and the slight projection of the bulge 50
above the wall 14 is sufficient to locate at least a portion of the bulge 50 in the groove 34.
In the assembled position, the cavity 26 provides fluid communication between the lumen
12 of the pipe and the exterior of the pipe 10. In addition, a seal 54 of the coupling 16 is
located in the groove 34 axially between the body 20 of the outer member 18 and the
bulge 50 of the inner member 36. It is noted that in the assembled position, an imaginary
plane P perpendicular to the axis B passes through the bulge 50 and the clamp 24.
[0027] When not in use, the outer members 18 can be easily removed from the pipe
10 thereby leaving the pipe 10 with only inner members 36. It is noted that the low
profiled projection at the bulge 50 of each inner member 36 out of the pipe 10, enables
the pipe 10 when not in use to be rolled in rather tight reels suitable for packaging,
transportation, storage and sale, etc.
[0028] Under internal fluid pressure the pipe 10 may experience stresses which, in the
lay flat pipe, may cause deformations in the wall 14 of the pipe 10. These stresses, which
are typically larger in the circumferential direction C, may deform the wall 14 to a larger
extent in the circumferential direction C. The deformation may be transformed from the
wall 14 to the coupling 16 that is attached thereto and thereby ruin or harm, inter alia, the
retention of the shank 22 in the bore 42. In the example descried herein, wherein the
retention of the shank 22 in the bore 42 is provided by the shank and bore threads 30, 44,
the deformation of the bore 42 which may ruin or harm the retention is one that releases
the shank 22 from being threaded in the bore 42 or causes spaces between the shank and
bore threads 30, 44 through which fluid may leak from the lumen 12.
[0029] The inner member 36 is optionally formed from polyolefin material which is
relatively cheap and resistant to damage caused by nutrients and other materials carried
by irrigation water. However, polyolefin material is a relatively soft or weak material
which may easily deform under pressure or a combination of pressure and temperature.
[0030] Attention is specifically drawn to Fig. 5. Under the internal fluid pressure in
the pipe 10 the inner member 36 which is attached to the wall 14 at the outer surface 46
may be urged to deform therewith in a direction away from the axis B. If this occurs, the
bulge 50 of the inner member 36 will abut and bear against the clamp 24 of the outer
member 18 (not shown). Optionally, the bulge 50 will first abut and bear against the
clamp 24 in the circumferential direction C.
[0031J The imaginary plane P may pass through a gap 56 that is optionally formed
between the bulge 50 and the clamp 24. The gap 56 helps share the stress that is formed
in the wall 14 of the pipe 10 between the attachment region 52 and the bulge 50 and
clamp 24. Under internal fluid pressure in the pipe 10, the stress formed in the wall 14
first deforms the wall 14 and the inner member 36 in a direction away from the axis B
until the gap 56 diminishes and the bulge 50 and clamp 24 abut. Any additional stress
that may exist in the wall 14 may urge the bulge 50 to bear against the clamp 24 and
thereby share the stress between the attachment region 52 and the clamp 24 and bulge 50.
[0032] It is noted that the coupling 16 may be attached to the wall 14 at other
surfaces. For example, the inner surface 48 of the wing 40 may be attached to the wall 14
of the pipe 10 (not shown). In this case, the bulge 50 of the inner member 36 should at
least project above the outer surface 46 of the wing 40 and into the groove 34. In
addition it is noted that the coupling 16 may be attached at the attachment region 52 to
the wall 14 in various ways. For example, the attachment may be due to pressure being
axially imposed upon the wall 14 and inner member 36. Preferably at the attachment
region 52, the inner member 36 is bonded to the wall 14 of the pipe 10 or fused to the
wall 14 of the pipe 10 by at least portions of the inner member 36 and/or wall 14 that at
an instance immediately prior to attachment were in a melted form.
[0033] 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.
We claim
1. An irrigation pipe coupling between a lay flat irrigation pipe and an irrigation
element, the coupling comprises an inner member attached to a wall of the pipe and an
outer member,
the inner member comprises a bulge and a bore, the bore is formed about an axis in
the inner member, and the bulge at least partially surrounds the axis,
the outer member comprises a clamp and a shank, the shank is retained in the bore
of the inner member, and the clamp at least partially surrounds a base of the shank,
wherein
at least a portion of the bulge is located between the shank and the clamp.
2. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein an imaginary plane
perpendicular to the axis passes through the bulge and the clamp.
3. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 2, wherein when the pipe is not
under internal fluid pressure the imaginary plane passes through a gap between the bulge
and the clamp.
4. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein when the pipe is
under a given internal fluid pressure at least a portion of the bulge abuts the clamp.
5. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the bulge projects a
distance smaller than 5 mm out of the pipe.
6. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the shank is
threadingly retained in the bore.
7. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the inner member is
bonded to the wall.
8. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the inner member is
formed from polyolefin material.
9. An irrigation pipe coupling for connecting to a lay flat irrigation pipe,
comprising:
an inner member having unitary one-piece construction and comprising a bulge and
a bore, the bore being formed about an axis in the inner member, and the bulge at least
partially surrounding the axis; and
an outer member having unitary one-piece construction and comprising a clamp and
a shank, the clamp at least partially surrounding a base of the shank; wherein:
the coupling is adjustable between:
a disassembled position in which the inner and outer members are separated from
each other, and
an assembled position in which the shank of the outer member is retained in the bore
of the inner member and at least a portion of the inner member's bulge is located between
the shank and the clamp.
10. An irrigation pipe coupling in combination with a lay flat irrigation pipe, the
irrigation pipe coupling comprising:
an inner member comprising a bulge and a bore, the bore being formed about an
axis in the inner member, and the bulge at least partially surrounding the axis; and
an outer member comprising a clamp and a shank, the clamp at least partially
surrounding a base of the shank; wherein:
the coupling is adjustable between:
a disassembled position in which the inner and outer members are separated from
each other, and
an assembled position in which the shank of the outer member is retained in the bore
of the inner member and at least a portion of the inner member's bulge is located between
the shank and the clamp; and
wherein the coupling is in the assembled position and the inner member is attached
to a wall of the pipe.
11. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein an imaginary
plane perpendicular to the axis passes through the bulge and the clamp.
12. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 11, wherein when the pipe is
not under internal fluid pressure the imaginary plane passes through a gap between the
bulge and the clamp.
13. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein when the pipe is
under a given internal fluid pressure at least a portion of the bulge abuts the clamp.
14. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein the bulge projects
a distance smaller than 5 mm out of the pipe.
15. The irrigation pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein the shank is
threadingly retained in the bore.

An irrigation pipe coupling (16) for connecting to a
lay flat irrigation pipe (10), comprises an inner
member (36) comprising a bulge (50) and a bore (42),
the bore (42) being formed about an axis (B) in the
inner member (36) an the bulge (50) at least partially
surrounding the axis (B) ; and an outer member (18)
comprising a clamp (24) and a shank (22), the clamp
(24) at least partially surrounding a base (32) of the
shank (22); wherein the coupling (16) is adjustable
between a disassemled position in which the inner and
outer members (36,18) are separated from each other,
and an assembled position in which the shank (22) of
the outer member (18) is retained in the bore (42) of
the inner member (36) and at least a portion of the
inner member's bulge (50) is located between the shank
(22) and the clamp (24).