Irrigation system hose-pull apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12016275-B2
Application number	US-202017097429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2020
Priority date	Mar 1, 2019
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

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

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

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 rotate about a vertical axis;
a first rigid pipe section in fluid communication with the fluid-distribution conduit and having a first end connected to the swivel and a second end extending outwardly from the swivel so that the second end can pivot horizontally;
a pivoting joint connected to the second end of the first rigid pipe section;
a second rigid pipe section in fluid communication with the first rigid pipe section and the fluid-supply hose, the second rigid pipe section having a first end connected to the pivoting joint so that the second rigid pipe section can pivot relative to the first rigid pipe section and a second end opposite to the first end of the second rigid pipe section; and
two or more stops configured to maintain the second end of the second rigid pipe section in a spaced relationship with the irrigation system.

2. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second pivoting joint connected to the second end of the second rigid pipe section and a third rigid pipe section in fluid communication with the second rigid pipe section and having a first end connected to the second pivoting joint so that the third rigid pipe section can pivot relative to the second rigid pipe section.

3. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible hose in fluid communication with the first rigid pipe section and the second rigid pipe section.

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

5. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second rigid pipe section extends away from the irrigation system.

6. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more stops includes an angle-limiting stop configured to prevent the second rigid pipe section from pivoting beyond a pivot angle relative to the first rigid pipe section.

7. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the pivot angle is where the second rigid pipe section is parallel with a path of the irrigation system.

8. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two or more stops comprises a swivel stop at least partially defining a maximum angle that the swivel can rotate about the vertical axis in at least one direction.

9. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the swivel stop is configured to prevent the second end of the first rigid pipe section from pivoting into a path of the irrigation system.

10. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first rigid pipe section extends substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis.

11. The hose-pull apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the swivel is in fluid communication with the fluid-distribution conduit and the first rigid pipe section.

12. 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 fluid-supply hose and including—
a swivel configured to rotate about a vertical axis,
a first rigid section having a first end connected to the swivel and a second end extending outwardly from the swivel so that the second end can be positioned at different angles relative to the frame member,
a pivoting joint connected to the second end of the first rigid section,
a second rigid section having a first end connected to the pivoting joint so that the second rigid section can pivot relative to the first rigid section and a second end opposite to the first end of the second rigid section,
a swivel stop configured to prevent the first rigid section from pivoting past a maximum swivel angle relative to the frame member, and
an angle-limiting stop configured to prevent the second rigid section from pivoting beyond a pivot angle relative to the first rigid section,

wherein the swivel stop and the angle-limiting stop are configured to maintain the second end of the second rigid section in a spaced relationship with the pair of wheels.

13. The mobile tower of claim 12 , wherein the hose-pull apparatus includes a second pivoting joint connected to the second end of the second rigid section and a third rigid section having a first end connected to the second pivoting joint.

14. The mobile tower of claim 12 , wherein the pivot angle is sized so that when the hose is coupled to the second end of the second rigid section, the hose does not kink when the mobile tower is moving forward or backward.

15. The mobile tower of claim 12 , wherein the swivel stop includes a bump stop attached to the frame member and configured to abut the first rigid section when the swivel reaches the maximum swivel angle.

16. The mobile tower of claim 12 , wherein the swivel stop is configured so that when the hose is coupled to the second rigid section, the hose does not enter a path of the pair of wheels when the mobile tower is moving forward or backward.

17. 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 a first mobile tower of the plurality of mobile towers and including—
a swivel configured to rotate about a vertical axis,
a first rigid section having a first end connected to the swivel and a second end extending outwardly from the swivel and away from the plurality of mobile towers so that the second end can pivot horizontally,
a pivoting joint directly connected to the second end of the first rigid section,
a second rigid section having a first end directly connected to the pivoting joint so that the second rigid section can pivot relative to the first rigid section and a second end connected to the fluid-supply hose,
a swivel stop at least partially defining maximum swivel angles that the swivel can rotate about the vertical axis in a direction, and
an angle-limiting stop configured to prevent the second rigid section from pivoting beyond a pivot angle relative to the first rigid section,

wherein the swivel stop and the angle-limiting stop are configured to maintain the second end of the second rigid section in a spaced relationship with the first mobile tower.

18. The irrigation system of claim 17 , wherein the swivel stop and the angle-limiting stop are configured to prevent the fluid-supply hose from kinking when coupled to the second rigid section and when the first mobile tower is moving forwards or backwards.

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

• B65H75/4481

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

• B65H2701/33

  Hollow or hose-like material · CPC title