Irrigation coupling apparatus and method

• US 7,021,672 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Orbit Irrigation Products (Pro-Mark LLC)
• Inventors: Ericksen, Kent C., Smith, Alan John, Ericksen, Michael Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Bochna, David
• Application Number:
  US10/678,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 285/308, 285/313, 285/316, 285/319, 285/93, 285/148.14, 285/148.15, 285/148.21, 285/147.1, 285/147.2, 285/147.3, 285/179, 285/181, 285/275, 285/277
• US Class Current: 285/181
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/008 for branching pipes; for joining pipes to walls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0915 with a separate member for releasing the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/021 T- or cross-pieces F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 43/008 made from plastic material
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 47/32 Branch units, e.g. made in one piece, welded, riveted

Abstract

In a fluid system such as irrigation system, fluid conduit attachment is facilitated through the use of a coupling. The coupling may have a body with a first end attached to a component such as an irrigation component, and a second end designed to receive an end of a conduit. The first end may be integrally formed with the component or separately attached thereto. The second end has a bore into which the end of the conduit is inserted. A gripping mechanism is seated in the bore to grip the end of the conduit. A release mechanism slides to release the conduit. The coupling may have a bend and/or branches extending to extra ends. A second coupling may be added to form a rotatable swing joint. An indicator such as a blue color may be used to indicate compatibility of the coupling with the conduit.

Claims

1. A component of a swing joint coupling for conveying fluid between a conduit and a component of a fluid system, the component of the swing joint coupling comprising:

a body comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the body is shaped to be insertable into a bore of a body of a second coupling along a plurality of orientations and retained by the second coupling in fluidtight fashion such that the coupling and the second coupling, together, form a swing joint, the second end comprising a bore into which a tube end of the conduit is insertable, the body further comprising a bend disposed to alter a flow orientation of fluid flowing between the first and second ends;

a gripping mechanism that grips the tube end of the conduit to fix a position of the tube end of the conduit within the bore; and

a release mechanism slidable with respect to the body to induce the gripping mechanism to release the tube end of the conduit.

2. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 1, wherein the bend comprises an angle of ninety degrees.

3. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a first branch that terminates in a third end in fluid communication with the first and second ends through the body.

4. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 3, wherein the first branch extends from the bend such that the coupling has a T-shape.

5. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 3, wherein the body further comprises a second branch, wherein the first and second branches extend from the bend such that the coupling has an X-shape.

6. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 1, wherein the coupling is part of an irrigation system for distributing fluid to soil, wherein the first end of the body is integrally formed with an irrigation component of the irrigation system.

7. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 1, wherein the first end comprises a second bore into which a tube end of a second conduit is insertable, the coupling further comprising:

a second gripping mechanism that grips the end of the second conduit to fix a position of the end of the second conduit within the second bore; and

a second release mechanism slidable with respect to the body to induce the second gripping mechanism to release the tube end of the second conduit.

8. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 1, wherein the first end is a tube end.

9. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 8, wherein the first end has an outside diameter similar to that of the conduit.

10. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 8, wherein the first end has an annular shoulder disposed to abut a release mechanism of the second coupling.

11. The component of a swing joint coupling of claim 8, wherein the tube end has a smooth outer surface without annular grooves, annular flanges, or annular beads.

12. A swing joint for coupling a conduit to a component of a fluid system, the swing joint comprising:

a first coupling comprising;

a body having a first end and a second end having a bore into which an end of the conduit is insertable; and

a gripping mechanism that grips the end of the conduit to fix a position of the end of the conduit within the bore; and

a second coupling comprising;

a body having a first end, a second end having a bore into which the first end of the body of the first coupling is insertable, and a bend disposed to alter a flow orientation of fluid flowing between the first and second ends; and

a gripping mechanism that grips the first end of the body of the first coupling to fix a position of the first end of the body of the first coupling within the bore;

wherein the first end of the body of the first coupling is insertable into the bore of the body of the second coupling along a plurality of orientations to permit disposition of the bend at a plurality of orientations with respect to the first coupling, wherein one of the first and second couplings comprises a release mechanism slidable with respect to the corresponding body to induce the gripping mechanism to release the end of the conduit.

13. The swing joint of claim 12, wherein the first end of the body of the first coupling comprises a tube having an outside diameter that is substantially the same as an outside diameter of the conduit.

14. The swing joint of claim 12, wherein the body of the first coupling comprises a bend disposed to alter a flow orientation of fluid flowing between the first and second ends of the body of the first coupling.

15. The swing joint of claim 14, wherein the body of the second coupling comprises a bend disposed to alter a flow orientation of fluid flowing between the first and second ends of the body of the second coupling, wherein each of the bends comprises an angle of about ninety degrees to permit orientation of the first end of the body of the second coupling at orientations including parallel to the conduit and perpendicular to the conduit.

16. The swing joint of claim 12, wherein the swing joint is part of an irrigation system for distributing fluid to soil, wherein the conduit conveys fluid underground, wherein the end of the conduit and the first coupling are buried.

17. The swing joint of claim 12, wherein the first end is a tube end.

18. The swing joint of claim 17, wherein the first end has an outside diameter similar to that of the conduit.

19. The swing joint of claim 17, wherein the first end has an annular shoulder disposed to abut a release mechanism of the second coupling.

20. The swing joint of claim 17, wherein the tube end has a smooth outer surface without annular grooves, annular flanges, or annular beads.