Riser cap and irrigation piping system using same

• US 9,765,913 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: North American Specialty Products LLC (TTWF LP)
• Original Assignee: North American Specialty Products LLC (TTWF LP)
• Inventors: Magargal, John R., Leigh, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, James M
• Application Number:
  US13/891,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 285 5, 2851431, 285206, 239200-209, 239600
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/148 the securing element being flexible F16L37/144 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/14 by screwing an intermediate part against the inside or outside of the wall F16L41/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 47/28 Joining pipes to walls or to other pipes, the axis of the joined pipe being perpendicular to the wall or to the axis of the other pipe

Abstract

A polymeric riser cap member includes a central tubular section defining a generally cylindrical bore for receiving a sprinkler riser, the central tubular section having open top and bottom ends, and an annular skirt coaxial with the central tubular section and having an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the central tubular section. The annular skirt has an inner surface having internal threads threadably connectable with the externally threaded surface of a tubular riser adapter member of a tubular coupler. The bottom end of the central tubular section has an annular projection disposed opposite and spaced from a portion of the annular skirt. The riser cap member includes an annular recess adapted to receive a seal located in a wall extending laterally between the annular skirt and the annular projection.

Claims

1. An irrigation pipe system, comprising:

a coupler having a body with at least one open end configured to be connected to a fluid transport pipe, the coupler comprising a riser adapter extending integrally from the body in fluid communication with a central region of the coupler, the riser adapter comprises external threads, and the body and riser adapter are integrally formed from polyvinylchloride (PVC);

a riser cap having a central tubular section defining a bore that is smooth and configured to receive a sprinkler riser at a top end thereof, the central tubular section having a bottom end, the riser cap comprises an annular skirt coaxial with the central tubular section, the annular skirt having an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the bore, and the annular skirt comprises internal threads configured to couple with the external threads of the riser adapter;

a seal; and

the riser cap is configured to be coupled to the riser adapter of the coupler by inserting the bottom end inside the riser adapter and threadably connecting the internal threads of the annular skirt to the external threads of the riser adapter, and, when the riser cap is coupled to the riser adapter, the seal contacts only an axial surface of the riser adapter.

2. The irrigation pipe system of claim 1, wherein the riser adapter has a first tubular section and a second tubular section, the first and second tubular sections are connected by a shoulder, the second tubular section has an internal diameter that is greater than an internal diameter of the first tubular section, wherein the bottom end of the riser cap has an annular projection that, when the riser cap is coupled to the riser adapter, seats on the shoulder, and the riser adapter is free of contact with the sprinkler riser when the sprinkler riser is mounted to the riser cap.

3. The irrigation pipe system of claim 2, wherein an outer diameter of a portion of the annular projection is approximately equal to the internal diameter of the second tubular section, and the riser cap is configured to be coupled to the sprinkler riser only at an interior of the riser cap, and the annular projection co-extends with an axial portion of the bore of the riser cap.

4. The irrigation pipe system of claim 3, wherein the sprinkler riser comprises a first end configured to be permanently mounted in the bore of the riser cap, and the first end of the sprinkler riser is configured to be only in the second tubular section of the riser adapter.

5. The irrigation pipe system of claim 1, wherein the riser cap comprises an annular recess adapted to receive the seal, and the annular recess is located only in an axial wall extending radially between the central tubular section and the annular skirt.

6. The irrigation pipe system of claim 5, wherein the seal comprises an O-ring.

7. The irrigation pipe system of claim 1, further comprising:

an annular flange extending radially from an outer surface of the central tubular section between the top and bottom ends thereof, wherein the annular skirt depends from the annular flange; and

a plurality of reinforcing members spaced around the central tubular member and extending between the outer surface of the central tubular member and the annular flange.

8. The irrigation pipe system of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler riser is configured to be bonded to the riser cap.

9. The irrigation pipe system of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler riser is configured to be bonded to the riser cap with a solvent weld.

10. The irrigation pipe system of claim 9, wherein both the sprinkler riser and the riser cap are formed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

11. The irrigation pipe system of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler riser is formed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

12. An irrigation assembly, comprising:

a coupler having a bore with open ends and a riser adapter in fluid communication with the bore, and the riser adapter has external threads;

pipes coupled to the open ends of the coupler with flexible splines;

a riser cap having a cap bore that is smooth and an annular skirt coaxial with the cap bore, and the annular skirt has internal threads coupled to the external threads of the riser adapter;

a seal between the riser adapter and the riser cap; and

a sprinkler riser mounted in the cap bore of the riser cap, such that the sprinkler riser is free of contact with the coupler.

13. The irrigation assembly of claim 12, wherein the seal contacts only an axial surface of the riser adapter.

14. The irrigation assembly of claim 12, wherein the riser adapter has a first tubular section and a second tubular section, the first and second tubular sections are connected by a shoulder, the second tubular section has an internal diameter that is greater than an internal diameter of the first tubular section, and the riser cap has an annular projection that is concentric with the annular skirt and co-extends an axial portion of the cap bore.

15. The irrigation assembly of claim 14, wherein an outer diameter of the annular projection is approximately equal to the internal diameter of the second tubular section.

16. The irrigation assembly of claim 14, wherein the sprinkler riser is permanently bonded to the bore of the riser cap with a solvent weld, and the sprinkler riser is located axially only within the second tubular section of the riser adapter.

17. The irrigation assembly of claim 12, wherein the riser cap comprises an annular recess formed only axially therein, and the seal is located in the annular recess.

18. The irrigation assembly of claim 14, wherein each of the coupler, pipes, riser cap and sprinkler riser comprises polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the annular projection is seated on the shoulder.

19. An irrigation assembly, comprising:

a coupler having a bore with open ends and a riser adapter in fluid communication with the bore, and the riser adapter has external threads;

pipes coupled to the open ends of the coupler with flexible splines;

a riser cap having a cap bore that is smooth and an annular skirt coaxial with the cap bore, and the annular skirt has internal threads coupled to the external threads of the riser adapter;

a seal between the riser adapter and the riser cap;

a sprinkler riser mounted in the cap bore of the riser cap; and

the riser adapter has a first tubular section and a second tubular section, the first and second tubular sections are connected by a shoulder, the second tubular section has an internal diameter that is greater than an internal diameter of the first tubular section, and the riser cap has an annular projection that is concentric with the annular skirt and co-extends an axial portion of the cap bore.