Irrigation boot assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11118686-B2
Application number	US-201816043093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2018
Priority date	Aug 1, 2017
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

The present invention provides an irrigation boot assembly for securing span pipes. According to a preferred embodiment, an irrigation boot assembly of the present invention may preferably include a center body portion formed as a laterally extending, hollow tube having a first side opening and a second side opening for receiving and securing connected span pipes. According to a further preferred embodiment, the irrigation boot assembly of the present invention preferably further includes securing straps extending around the first and second side openings. According to a further preferred embodiment, the center body portion of the present invention preferably further includes a plurality of bellows which each include a ridge portion extending above the surface of the center body portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An irrigation boot assembly for securing a first span pipe to a second span pipe each having a first diameter, wherein the irrigation boot assembly comprises:
a center body portion, wherein the center body portion comprises a laterally extending, hollow tube having a first side opening and a second side opening; further wherein the center body portion has a second diameter which is larger than the first diameter; wherein the center body portion is configured to receive the first span pipe within the first side opening; further wherein the center body portion is configured to receive the second span pipe within the second side opening;
a first securing strap and a second securing strap; wherein the first securing strap extends around the first side opening and the first span pipe; further wherein the second securing strap extends around the second side opening and the second span pipe;
a plurality of bellows; wherein the bellows are incorporated into the walls of the center body portion to form concertinaed sides; wherein each bellow is comprised of a ridge portion extending above the surface of the center body portion; further wherein the bellows are formed to compress and extend in response to lateral and angular forces applied due to the misalignment of the first and second span pipes;
wherein the center body portion further comprises a plurality of valleys which are positioned between each of the plurality of bellows; and
a plurality of reinforcing bands; wherein at least one reinforcing band extends around the center body portion; wherein at least one reinforcing band is comprised of metal, plastic or fabric secured within a valley;
wherein the bellows are configured to compress down to a compressed length and extend to an extended length;
wherein the extended length is more than two inches longer than the compressed length;
wherein the irrigation boot assembly further comprises a first rotational bearing connected to the first span pipe and a second rotational bearing connected to the second span pipe;
wherein the first and second rotational bearings are configured to rotate in response to any transferred rotational movement from the first and second span pipes.

2. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bellows are comprised of semicircular ridges.

3. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 2 , wherein the semicircular ridges have an outer circumference greater than 2 inches.

4. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bellows extend to a length greater than nine inches.

5. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 4 , wherein the bellows compress to less than 3 inches.

6. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 5 , wherein the outer circumference of each bellow is within the range of 0.5-5.0 inches.

7. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bellows are V-shaped.

8. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bellows are circular shaped.

9. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 5 , wherein the irrigation boot assembly is configured to flex rearward to create a net rearward angle between the first span pipe and the second span pipe in the range of 10-100 degrees.

10. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 5 , wherein the irrigation boot assembly is configured to flex forward to create a net forward angle between the first and second span pipes in the range of 10-100 degrees.

11. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bellows are pyramid shaped.

12. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bellows are triangular shaped.

13. An irrigation boot assembly for securing a first span pipe to a second span pipe each having a first diameter, wherein the irrigation boot assembly comprises:
a center body portion, wherein the center body portion comprises a laterally extending, hollow tube having a first side opening and a second side opening; further wherein the center body portion has a second diameter which is larger than the first diameter; wherein the center body portion is configured to receive the first span pipe within the first side opening; further wherein the center body portion is configured to receive the second span pipe within the second side opening;
a first securing strap and a second securing strap; wherein the first securing strap extends around the first side opening and the first span pipe; further wherein the second securing strap extends around the second side opening and the second span pipe;
a plurality of bellows; wherein the bellows are incorporated into the walls of the center body portion to form concertinaed sides; wherein each bellow is comprised of a ridge portion extending above the surface of the center body portion; further wherein the bellows are formed to compress and extend in response to lateral and angular forces applied due to the misalignment of the first and second span pipes;
wherein the center body portion further comprises a plurality of valleys which are positioned between each of the plurality of bellows; and
a plurality of reinforcing bands; wherein at least one reinforcing band extends around the center body portion; wherein at least one reinforcing band is comprised of metal, plastic or fabric secured within a valley;
wherein the irrigation boot assembly is comprised of four bellows formed within the center body portion;
wherein the bellows are configured to compress down to a compressed length and extend to an extended length;
wherein the extended length is more than two inches longer than the compressed length; wherein the bellows extend to a length greater than nine inches; wherein the bellows compress to less than 3 inches; wherein the irrigation boot assembly further comprises a first rotational bearing connected to the first span pipe and a second rotational bearing connected to the second span pipe.

14. The irrigation boot assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first and second rotational bearings are configured to rotate in response to any transferred rotational movement from the first and second span pipes.

Assignees

• Valmont Industries

Inventors

• Olson Andrew T

Classifications

• A01G25/00

  Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like (special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B) · CPC title

• F16J3/043

  with particular means for limiting wear · CPC title

• F16J15/52 Primary

  by means of sealing bellows or diaphragms (connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00) · CPC title

• F16L27/111

  the bellows being reinforced · CPC title

• F16J3/042

  Fastening details · CPC title