Irrigation system hose-pull apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10925221-B2
Application number	US-201916290020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2019
Priority date	Mar 1, 2019
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A hose-pull apparatus for mounting to an irrigation system mobile tower supporting a fluid-carrying conduit. The hose-pull apparatus includes a swivel, a first pipe section, a joint, and a second pipe section. The swivel is configured to be in fluid communication with the conduit and rotate about a vertical axis. The first pipe section has a first end connected to the swivel and a second end extending outwardly from the swivel so that the first pipe section can pivot horizontally. The joint is connected to the second end of the first pipe section. The second pipe section has a first end connected to the joint so that the second pipe section can articulate relative to the first pipe section. The joint also has a second end configured to be in fluid communication with a supply hose.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hose-pull apparatus for connecting a fluid-supply hose to a fluid-distribution conduit of an irrigation system and for preventing kinks in the hose, the hose-pull apparatus comprising:
a swivel configured to be in fluid communication with the conduit of the irrigation system and rotate about a vertical axis;
a first pipe section having a first end connected to the swivel and a second end extending outwardly from the swivel so that the first pipe section can pivot horizontally;
a joint connected to the second end of the first pipe section; and
a second pipe section having a first end connected to the joint so that the second pipe section can articulate relative to the first pipe section, and a second end configured to be in fluid communication with the hose so as to deliver fluids from the hose to the conduit of the irrigation system,
wherein the joint comprises an angle-limiting stop configured to prevent the second pipe section from articulating beyond a maximum angle relative to the first pipe section, the angle-limiting stop including a chain attached to the second end of the first pipe section and the first end of the second pipe section.

2. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second joint connected to the second end of the second pipe section and a third pipe section having a first end connected to the second joint.

3. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , the joint including—
a first collar attached to the second end of the first pipe section and having a leaf,
a second collar attached to the first end of the second pipe section and having a leaf, and
a pin pivotally connecting the leaf of the first collar and the leaf of the second collar.

4. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 3 , the joint including—
a third collar attached to the second end of the first pipe section on a radially-opposite side of the first collar, the third collar having a leaf,
a fourth collar attached to the first end of the second pipe section on a radially-opposite side of the second collar, the fourth collar having a leaf, and
a second pin pivotally connecting the leaf of the third collar and the leaf of the fourth collar.

5. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a flexible hose coupled to the second end of the first pipe section and the first end of the second pipe section.

6. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , the maximum angle relative to the first pipe section being large enough that when the hose is coupled to the second end of the second pipe section, the hose does not kink when the irrigation system is moving backward or forward.

7. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a stop that prevents the swivel from rotating beyond a maximum angle relative to a center angle.

8. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 7 , the maximum angle being small enough so that when the hose is coupled to the second end of the second pipe section, the hose does not enter a path of the irrigation system when the irrigation system is moving forward or backward.

9. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 7 , the stop including a bump stop configured to abut the first pipe section when the swivel reaches the maximum angle.

10. An irrigation system mobile tower connectable to a fluid-supply hose and supporting a fluid-distribution conduit, the mobile tower comprising:
a frame member;
a pair of wheels attached to the frame member; and
a hose-pull apparatus attached to the frame member for preventing kinks in the hose and including—
a swivel configured to be in fluid communication with the conduit and rotate about a vertical axis,
a first pipe section having a first end connected to the swivel and a second end extending outwardly from the swivel so that the first pipe section can be positioned at different angles relative to the frame member,
a joint connected to the second end of the first pipe section, and
a second pipe section having a first end connected to the joint so that the second pipe section can articulate relative to the first pipe section, and a second end configured to be in fluid communication with the hose,
wherein the joint comprises an angle-limiting stop configured to prevent the second pipe section from articulating beyond a maximum angle relative to the first pipe section, the angle-limiting stop including a chain attached to the second end of the first pipe section and the first end of the second pipe section.

11. The mobile tower of claim 10 , the hose-pull apparatus including a second joint connected to the second end of the second pipe section and a third pipe section having a first end connected to the second joint.

12. The mobile tower of claim 10 , the maximum angle relative to the first pipe section being large enough that when the hose is coupled to the second end of the second pipe section, the hose does not kink when the mobile tower is moving forward or backward.

13. The mobile tower of claim 10 , the hose-pull apparatus including a stop that prevents the swivel from rotating beyond a maximum angle relative to a center angle.

14. The mobile tower of claim 13 , the stop including a bump stop attached to the frame member and configured to abut the first pipe section when the swivel reaches the maximum angle.

15. The mobile tower of claim 13 , the maximum angle being small enough so that when the hose is coupled to the second end of the second pipe section, the hose does not enter a path of the mobile tower when the mobile tower is moving forward or backward.

16. An irrigation system connectable to a fluid-supply hose, the irrigation system comprising:
a fluid-carrying conduit;
a plurality of spaced-apart mobile towers configured to support and move the conduit; and
a hose-pull apparatus attached to one of the plurality of mobile towers and including—
a swivel configured to be in fluid communication with the conduit and rotate about a vertical axis,
a first pipe section having a first end connected to the swivel and a second end extending outwardly from the swivel so that the first pipe section can pivot horizontally,
a joint connected to the second end of the first pipe section, and
a second pipe section having a first end connected to the joint so that the second pipe section can articulate relative to the first pipe section, and a second end configured to be in fluid communication with the hose,
wherein the joint comprises an angle-limiting stop configured to prevent the second pipe section from articulating beyond a maximum angle relative to the first pipe section, the angle-limiting stop including a chain attached to the second end of the first pipe section and the first end of the second pipe section.

17. The irrigation system of claim 16 , the hose-pull apparatus including a swivel stop that is configured to prevent the hose from kinking when coupled to the second end of the second pipe section and the one of the plurality of mobile towers is moving forward or backward.

Assignees

• Lindsay Corp

Inventors

• Dudik Matthew J
• Korus Thomas J

Classifications

• A01G25/097 Primary

  guided or propelled along a water supply line with supply line traversing means · CPC title

• B65H75/36

  without essentially involving the use of a core or former internal to a stored package of material, e.g. with stored material housed within casing or container, or intermittently engaging a plurality of supports as in sinuous or serpentine fashion · CPC title

• B65H2701/33

  Hollow or hose-like material · CPC title

• B65H75/4481

  Arrangements or adaptations for driving the reel or the material (by a spring B65H75/48) · CPC title