Abstract:
A valve for a layflat polypipe irrigation tubing valve including a base pivotally supporting two arms with adjustment apertures selectively connected by a cross pin to adjustably control flow in the irrigation tubing from an unrestricted flow position through a plurality of finely adjustable restricted flow positions to a fully restricted flow position while providing a distally identifiable visual indicator of the valve position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to improvements in adjustable flow control clamps. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements particularly suited for controlling water flow in flexible plastic irrigation pipes commonly referred to as layflat polypipe. In particular, the present invention relates specifically to a flow control valve for use on gradients or downslopes to control the flow rate and limit head pressure on the layflat polypipe. 
     2. Description of the Known Art 
     Layflat polypipe is a flexible lay flat tubing sold in long rolls used for irrigation with low pressure water movement on relatively flat surfaces. Layflat polypipe is manufactured in 6 mil to 15 mil thickness from polyethylene with a diameter of 6 to 22 inches and in lengths up to 1320 ft spirally wound on central core tubes. The pipe is laid into a flat bottom furrow generally dug by a tractor along the ends of the furrows in a crop field. Dirt is thrown on top of the pipe every 10 to 15 feet to hold the pipe in place until it is filled with water. Because the size of the pipe is controlled by the amount of water needed to be carried to the crops; the amount of water to flow through the pipe is determined by the crop being grown and the weather; and the length of the pipe is controlled by the size of the field to be irrigated, the grower does not have much control over the input costs associated with purchasing the pipe. In contrast to these uncontrolled variables, the pipe is sold by the pound such that by buying a thinner pipe, less money needs to be expended by the user. This creates a problem because the thin 6 mil to 15 mil thickness means that the layflat poly pipe can only handle a water head of less than one to three feet and/or less than 1.5 Psi or even 0.6 Psi on the thinnest pipes. This means that the field must be substantially flat, or something needs to be done to control the flow through the pipe and the head pressure. On slight gradients, the flow and head pressure can be controlled with dirt mounds built up under the pipe or by laying ½ barrels under the pipe when the pipe is installed to build up small pools inside the pipe to slow the water flow. Thus, when a gradient is encountered, dirt may be piled up under the pipe to create a small dam that pools the water in the pipe to limit the down pipe head pressure. This solution has problems in that the dirt piles are not uniform sizes, the dirt piles erode over time, and the layflat pipe may shift off of the dirt pile. Downhead pressure is also controlled by the number of outlets cut into the pipe. The layflat polypipe is typically placed perpendicular to the furrows and small holes are punched/cut into the top and upper sides of the polypipe to let the appropriate amount of water out of the pipe to control the amount of water supplied in any particular area. If too much water is released at or toward the distal end of the pipe, the pipe never fills and water does not reach the height of the middle holes to allow for water release along the length of the pipe. Thus, the system must be balanced for flow and pressure within the limits of the layflat polypipe. These and other problems exist in the known art. 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, valves and clamps are known in various forms. Patents disclosing information relevant to valves and clamps include: U.S. Pat. No. 2,693,203, issued to Hempel on Nov. 2, 1954; U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,228, issued to Buckman, et al. on Mar. 9, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,149, issued to Bujan on Jun. 1, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,336, issued to Jones, et al. on Dec. 20, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,232, issued to Clements on Feb. 26, 1980; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,160, issued to Flynn, et al. on May 13, 1986. Each of these patents is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     From these prior references it may be seen that these prior art patents are very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an improved polypipe valve is needed to overcome these limitations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an improved polypipe valve using a base and two arms to form an aperture to encircle a layflat polypipe and control flow through the polypipe. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a base is provided using offset pivot mounts to place the arms adjacent to each other for adjustment of the size of the aperture. The arms can be disconnected from each other so that one or both arms can be opened to allow for placement of the valve around the pipe without cutting the already deployed polypipe. The base forms a ground contact support to secure the pipe in position. Multiple apertures in each arm allow for a large plurality of gradiated restricted flow positions to precisely control the water flow while providing an easily seen visible valve position indicator. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of the valve in its greatest flow position where the flow is unrestricted. 
         FIG. 2  shows a bottom view of the valve. 
         FIG. 3  shows a left side view of the valve. 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of the valve in its lowest flow position, the back view being a mirror image thereof. 
         FIG. 5  shows a right side view of the valve. 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view of the valve. 
         FIG. 7  shows the valve in a disconnected pipe insertion position with an unfilled layflat polypipe. 
         FIG. 8  shows the valve in the greatest flow position with the unfilled layflat polypipe. 
         FIG. 9  shows the valve in the greatest flow position with the polypipe filled with water. 
         FIG. 10  shows the valve in a restricted flow position clamping on the wall of the polypipe 
         FIG. 11  shows the valve in a further restricted position. 
         FIG. 12  shows the valve in the lowest flow position ping off flow within the polypipe. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 12  of the drawings, one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally shown as a triangular flow pipe clamping control valve  100 . The valve  100  includes a first arm clamping surface  101  on a first clamp arm  300 , a second arm clamping surface  102  on a second arm  400 , and base clamping surface  103  on the base body  200  to create triangle shape defining the flow aperture  104  for the pipe  10 . 
     The valve  100  is constructed from the base body  200 , first clamp arm  300 , and second clamp arm  400 . The first clamp arm  300  is pivotally connected to the base body  200  with a first pivot pin  222  and the second clamp arm  400  is pivotally connected to the base body  200  with a second pivot pin  242 . A repositionable arm connecter  500  is used to adjustable connect the first clamp arm  300  to the second clamp arm  400 . 
     Flow through the pipe  10  is controlled by adjusting the size of the aperture  12  and thereby limiting the expansion space the pipe wall  12  has to expand from a no flow position  510 , though a plurality of reduced flow positions  520  to a greatest or unrestricted flow position  530 . Because the pipe  10  is secured in the aperture  12  regardless of the position chosen, the flow is controlled regardless of the pipe  10  position such that the concern of the pipe  10  slipping off of dirt mounds or barrels is eliminated even when no flow or full flow is provided. The arms  300 ,  400  can be disconnected and pivoted opened to a pipe insertion position  540  to allow for placement after the pipe  10  has been deployed without cutting the pipe  10 . The first clamp arm  300  to base body  200  forms a first angle  601 . The second clamp arm  400  to base body  200  forms the second angle  602 . The first angle  601  and second angle  602  are adjustable from one hundred and eighty degrees through zero degrees. The first clamp arm  300  to second clamp arm forms the third angle  603  and may be from a disconnected position where at least one of the arms  300 ,  400  is opened to form the pipe insertion position  540  through one hundred and eighty degrees when the both anus  300 ,  400  are aligned in the no flow position  510 . Note that the no flow position may also be achieved by having only one arm  300 ,  400  aligned with the base body  200 . 
     The base body  200  is used to provide the ground contact base to hold the pipe  10  in position. The base body  200  includes a base top surface  202  including a longitudinal center line  204 , base bottom surface  206 , base left side wall  208 , base right side wall  210 , base front wall  212 , and base back wall  214 . The base body  200  supports the first pivot pin  222  with the first offset pivot body  216  and the second pivot pin  242  with the second offset pivot body  224 . The first offset pivot pin  216  includes the first front ear  218  and the first back ear  220 . The second offset pivot body  224  includes the second front ear  226  and the second back ear  228 . Each ear  218 ,  220 ,  226 ,  228  includes an ear curved top surface  230  to avoid sharp edges pinching the pipe  10 , as well as an ear left side wall  232 , ear right side wall  234 , ear pivot aperture  236 , ear front wall  238 , and ear back wall  240 . The offset pivot bodies  216 ,  224  are offset in an opposing nature from the longitudinal center line  204  such that the first arm back side  310  of the first clamp arm  300  and the second arm front side  408  of the second clamp arm  400  are positioned with sides  310 ,  408  adjacent to each other, but on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line  204  so that the apertures  314 ,  414  can be aligned and the arms  300 ,  400  can be connected together. 
     Each pivot pin  222 ,  242  includes an elongated pin body  244  extending from a front pin end  246  to a back pin end  248 . 
     The first clamp arm  300  includes a first arm pivot end  302 , first arm top surface  304 , first arm bottom surface  306 , first arm front side  308 , first arm back side  310 , first arm adjustment end  312  and first atm adjustment apertures  314 . Similarly, the second clamp arm  400  includes a second arm pivot end  402 , second arm top surface  404 , second arm bottom surface  406 , second arm front side  408 , second arm back side  410 , second adjustment end  412 , and second adjustment apertures  414 . The first arm adjustment apertures  314  and the second adjustment apertures  414  align in at least one location for a lowest clamp aperture  416  that closes off flow through the pipe  10 . 
     The arm connecter  500  includes an arm pin  502  that extends to adjustably connect the first and second arms  300 ,  400  together in a no flow position  510 , reduced flow position  520  providing less than full flow, unrestricted flow position  530  providing full pipe expansion and flow and pipe insertion position  540  allowing the valve  100  to be positioned around an already deployed pipe. The arm connector  500  and may be constructed as a piece of wire, cotter pin, hitch pin, bolt and nut, or other aperture connecting mechanism. 
       FIGS. 9 through 12  show the pipe in an unrestricted flow position  530  in  FIG. 9 , two different levels of restricted flow position  520  in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , and in a no flow position  510  in  FIG. 12 . Note how the unused portion of the arm adjustment end  312 ,  314  extending upward from the connection  500  positions are easily recognized as vertical indicators  700  of the amount of flow available to the pipe. When the arms are connected with the apertures most distal from the arm pivot ends  302 ,  402  and closest to the arm adjustment end  312 ,  412  then the arm is in its highest position and indicates an unrestricted flow position  530 .  FIGS. 10 and 11  show how the lowering of one or both arms  300 ,  400  indicates the amount of restriction on the layflat polypipe  10  and  FIG. 12  shows how a complete lowering of the arms  300 ,  400  indicate the no flow position  510 . It may also be understood by looking at  FIGS. 9, 11, and 12  on how only one arm needs to have multiple apertures  314 ,  414  and the other arm could just have the end most aperture that is most distal from the arm pivot ends  302 ,  402  and closest to the arm adjustment end  312 ,  412 . This reduction in the number of apertures  314 ,  414  changes the resolution of the gradients that may be achieved, but still provides an effective range for most applications. 
     Reference numerals used throughout the detailed description and the drawings correspond to the following elements:
         Layflat polypipe  10     pipe wall  12     Triangular flow pipe clamping control valve  100     First arm clamping surface  101     Second arm clamping surface  102     base clamping surface  103     Base body  200     Base top surface  202     Longitudinal center line  204     Base bottom surface  206     Base left side wall  208     Base right side wall  210     Base front wall  212     Base back wall  214     First offset pivot body  216     Front ear  218     Back ear  220     First pivot pin  222     Second offset pivot  224     Front ear  226     Back ear  228     Ear curved top surface  230     Ear left side wall  232     Ear right side wall  234     Ear pivot aperture  236     Ear front wall  238     Ear back wall  240     Second pivot pin  242     Elongated pin body  244     Front pin end  246     Back pin end  248     First clamp arm  300     First arm pivot end  302     First arm top surface  304     First arm bottom surface  306     First arm front side  308     First arm back side  310     First arm adjustment end  312     First arm adjustment apertures  314     Second clamp arm  400     Second arm pivot end  402     Second arm top surface  404     Second arm bottom surface  406     Second arm front side  408     Second arm back side  410     Second adjustment end  412     Second adjustment apertures  414     Aligning for lowest clamp aperture  416     Arm connecter  500     Arm pin  502     no flow position  510     restricted flow position  520     unrestricted flow position  530     pipe insertion position  540     first angle  601     second angle  602     third angle  603     Vertical indicator  700         

     From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. It will also be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     When interpreting the claims of this application, method claims may be recognized by the explicit use of the word ‘method’ in the preamble of the claims and the use of the ‘ing’ tense of the active word. Method claims should not be interpreted to have particular steps in a particular order unless the claim element specifically refers to a previous element, a previous action, or the result of a previous action. Apparatus claims may be recognized by the use of the word ‘apparatus’ in the preamble of the claim and should not be interpreted to have ‘means plus function language’ unless the word ‘means’ is specifically used in the claim element. The words ‘defining,’ ‘having,’ or ‘including’ should be interpreted as open ended claim language that allows additional elements or structures. Finally, where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element of the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.