Abstract:
A flexible hose drop securement system is provided having a support bracket and a hose retainer. The support bracket is configured to mount to an elevated water supply pipe of an irrigation device adjacent a hose drop coupled at an entrance end with the water supply pipe. The hose retainer is carried by the support bracket and has an engagement surface configured to secure a segment of a flexible hose drop spaced from the entrance end of the hose drop so as to impart an arc in the hose drop. A method for supporting a hose drop is also provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/441,711 which was filed on Feb. 11, 2011, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Elevating Sprinkler of Flexible Hose Drop on Main Water Line”, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to irrigation systems, moving or static. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for supporting components of a hose drop on an irrigation device during a crop growing cycle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is previously known to irrigate crops in large fields using either a center pivot or a linear move irrigation device. Originally, these devices had a spaced-apart array of individual sprinklers provided atop a main water supply line that was elevated above a field. Over time, U-shaped horseshoe adapters were added in order to allow attachment of downwardly extending drops made from rigid water lines to which a sprinkler was affixed at a bottom end. However, for crops that grow to relatively tall heights, such as corn, there existed a need to adjust the height of sprinklers. Furthermore, there exists a need to reduce or eliminate the need for a U-shaped horseshoe adapter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An apparatus and method are provided for raising and lowering sprinklers provided on an irrigation device, such as a center pivot or linear move irrigation device, as well as for supporting sprinklers and flexible hose drops in elevated configurations. An apparatus and method are also provided for securing electrical and control lines, or cables onto spans, or main water lines on an irrigation device while also providing for support of segments of a flexible hose drop. A sprinkler hanger body is provided for selectively supporting individual sprinklers at raised positions above a traditional drop position using a complementary, mating sprinkler support body. A hose retainer is also provided relative to a support bracket for retaining a segment of a hose so as to eliminate the need for a separate U-shaped horseshoe adapter. Furthermore, a method is provided for supporting a sprinkler in a manner that bends a flexible segment of a hose drop so as to eliminate the need for a U-shaped horseshoe adapter, as well as for further supporting a flexible hose drop and sprinkler in an elevated position. 
         [0005]    According to one aspect, a flexible hose drop securement system is provided having a support bracket and a hose retainer. The support bracket is configured to mount to an elevated water supply pipe of an irrigation device adjacent a hose drop coupled at an entrance end with the water supply pipe. The hose retainer is carried by the support bracket and has an engagement surface configured to secure a segment of a flexible hose drop spaced from the entrance end of the hose drop so as to impart an arc in the hose drop. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect, an apparatus is provided for supporting a flexible hose drop relative to an irrigation device. The apparatus includes a support member and a hose retention member. The support member is configured to be carried by a water supply pipe on an irrigation device proximate a hose drop fluid coupled with the water supply pipe. The hose retention member is carried by the support member and has a contact surface configured to engage and hold a flexible segment of hose on the hose drop spaced from the entrance end of the hose drop so as to invert the hose to impart an arcuate bend in the hose drop. 
         [0007]    According to yet another aspect, a method is provided for supporting a hose drop relative to an irrigation device. The method includes: providing a support member and a hose retention member carried on a water supply pipe of an irrigation device proximate a flexible hose drop extending at an inlet end from the water supply pipe; bending the flexible hose drop to form an arc between the hose retention member and the inlet end; and securing a hose segment of the hose drop with the hose retention member onto the support member so as to retain the formed arc in the hose when water is supplied through the hose. 
         [0008]    According to even another aspect, a sprinkler elevating apparatus is provided for use on an irrigation device. The sprinkler elevating apparatus includes at least one clamp member having a cavity configured to grip and encircle a main irrigation pipe line and a hanger body carried by the clamp member having an interface surface configured to mate and demate with a sprinkler support body on a flexible hose drop 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a segment of a main water line for a center pivot irrigation device having a clamp and hanger assembly affixed to the main water line at each location where a flexible hose drop exits the main water line. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view for the clamp and hanger assembly of  FIG. 1  shown assembled together. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the clamp and hanger assembly of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    This disclosure is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8). 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a clamp/hanger assembly  934  affixed about a main water line, or pipe  920  of a center pivot irrigation device, according to one embodiment. Clamp/hanger assembly  934  includes a hanger body  928  configured and sized to mate and demate with an outer periphery of a sprinkler support body  926  affixed to a midline (or optionally affixed to a sprinkler component of a flexible hose drop) of a flexible hose  923 . An outer contact surface  940  of body  926  mates with a complementary surface  970  to hold a sprinkler (not shown) located at the distal end of the hose drop at an elevated position. Removal of body  926  from hanger body  928  using an elongated, or pole-shaped lifting tool (having a pair of parallel wire engagement fingers) by a person at ground level returns a sprinkler to a lowered position. The same lifting tool is used to raise and load body  926  onto hanger body  928 .  FIGS. 2-3  further illustrate construction and use of this embodiment. It is understood that the same implementation can be used to raise and lower a sprinker/regulator assembly on a hose drop relative to a linear move irrigation device, or a static irrigation device. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a worker can use a mating lifting tool to raise each one of a series of sprinkler/regulator assemblies provided on a downwardly hanging flexible hose drop  923  of a center pivot irrigation device using the lifting tool while the worker remains at ground level. This technique is believed to reduce or eliminate any risk of workers falling off of a center pivot using prior techniques that required a worker to climb atop the center pivot in order to raise each hose drop. During use, the lifting tool mates and demates with a sprinkler support body, or puck  926 . Sprinkler support body  926  is mounted to a midline segment of hose  923 . Optionally, body  926  can be mounted directly to, or adjacent a sprinkler component. Early in a crop growth cycle, such as for corn crops, hose drop  923  hangs down adjacent the crop. As the crop grows in height, raising the potential of the crop to interrupt water distribution from each sprinkler, the worker raises each sprinkler individually using the lifting tool while the worker remains at ground level. In this manner, the worker avoids the need to climb up a ladder, or climb onto truss rods of a truss on an irrigation device. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , main water line, or pipe  920  comprises a galvanized steel pipe having a polypropylene lining inside of the steel pipe. According to such construction, a special sealed hose drop fitting  924  extends through an aperture in pipe  920  and connects to an end of flexible hose, or drop  923 . With such construction, it is desirable to impart a defined U-shaped bend  922  in hose  923  so as to prevent any unnecessary torque at fitting  924  that might lead to failure of the seal with pipe  920 . A yoke, or clamp collar  944  on clamp/hanger assembly  934  induces a U-shaped bend  922  in hose  923 , thereby imparting a defined geometry under water pressure to bend  922 . By properly spacing apart the position of collar  944  along hose  923  (relative to fitting  924 ), hose  923  will not kink when placed under a supply of internal water pressure during use. Optionally, it is understood that clamp/hanger assembly  934  can be mounted onto any water line on a linear moving irrigation device or on any form of stationary irrigation devices, such as fixed water supply lines provided in a greenhouse. The formation of bend  922  eliminates the need for a U-shaped horseshoe adapter on water supply pipe  920 . 
         [0017]    Additionally, clamp/hanger assembly  934  secures a span cable (including power and control lines)  925  along pipe  920  at each discrete location adjacent a flexible hose drop  923  along main line, or pipe  920  of an irrigation device. By securing span cable  925  between each clamp/hanger assembly  934  and an outer surface of pipe  920 , risk that someone will steal span cable  925  for resale as scrap metal will be greatly reduced. More particularly, span cable  925  is positioned within one of clamp grooves  974 - 976  (see  FIGS. 2-3 ). 
         [0018]    In order to support a hanger body  928  off of a main water line  920 , a cylindrical aperture  963  is provided between mating/demating lower clamp member  961  and upper clamp member  962 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Hanger body  928  includes an extended arm  960  that terminates in a yoke  964  configured to receive a complementary sprinkler support body  926 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates lower clamp member  961  and upper clamp member  962  forcibly engaged together about pipe  920  by securing together threaded fasteners, or bolts  936  and threaded nuts  942 . Clamp members  961  and  962  cooperate with fasteners  936  and  942  to provide a clamp assembly  958 . Optionally, a layer of adhesive friction sandpaper, or non-skid can be provided between clamp assembly and pipe  920  in order to further ensure that clamp assembly  958  does not rotate relative to pipe  920 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a cylindrical outer surface  940  of puck  926  is mated and demated with a complementary female contact surface  970  on yoke  964 . Puck  926  is seated against surface  970  and atop radially inwardly extending surface, or arcuate shelf  972 , and between arms  966  and  968 . 
         [0021]    According to one construction, lower clamp member  961 , upper clamp member  962  (and hanger body  928 ), and clamp collar  944  are each constructed from injection molded polypropylene. Alternatively, any suitable material can be used to form members  961 ,  962  and collar  944 , such as metal, composite materials, or any other suitable structural material. Furthermore, clamp assembly  958  can be sized to fit a pipe  920  (see  FIG. 1 ) having an outer diameter of 4″, 6⅝″, or 8″. Furthermore, such a pipe can have any conduit cross-sectional shaped or dimension. Optionally, clamp/hanger assembly  934  can be made of one or more pieces of metal and welded onto a metal water supply line. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a pair of threaded fasteners, or hex head bolts  936  with washers  938  are received through respective through-bores  954  and  955  in upper clamp member  962  and respective through-bores  956  and  957  in lower clamp member  961 . Washers  939  and threaded nuts  942  are received on each of bolts  936 . Threaded engagement of bolts  936  and nuts  942  drive together clamp members  961  and  962  about an outer surface of a main water supply line (not shown), thereby securing clamp/hanger assembly  934  from translating or rotating relative to a pipe, or water supply line. 
         [0023]    Clamp collar  944  of  FIG. 3  has a pair of parallel guide surfaces  948  and  949  that mate in sliding engagement with complementary guide surfaces  950  and  951  on member  962 . A flexible hose drop segment is received within clamp collar  944 , after which clamp collar  944  is mated with and slid along surfaces  950  and  951 . A stainless steel hose clamp  946  is then secured around hose clamp seat  959  and through a slot  952  through member  962 , adjacent a semi-cylindrical surface  953 . A ribbed clamp surface  978  on clamp collar  944  engages with a hose received therein, and forces such hose into further engagement with a ribbed clamp surface  980  on member  962 , as hose clamp  946  is tightened thereabout. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , lower clamp member  961  is injection molded with longitudinal ribs  982  and lateral ribs  983  in order to save material and weight, while maintaining structural strength. Similarly, upper clamp member  962  is injection molded with longitudinal ribs  984  and lateral ribs (not shown, but similar to ribs  983  on member  961 ). Upper clamp member  962  also includes side walls  986  and  988  at each end that are wider than respective portions of lower clamp member  961 , thereby overlying member  961 . As such, member  962  is telescopically received into engagement with member  961 , as fasteners  936  drive them together into engagement during assembly. 
         [0025]    Optionally, hanger body  928  of  FIG. 3  can be removed from an alternative version in order to provide a hose clamp via yoke  944  and a cable clamp via clamp grooves  974 - 976 . Further optionally, one or more of hanger body  928 , yoke  944  and clamp grooves  974 - 976  can be removed so as to leave one or more of the remaining features on assembly  934 . For example, assembly  934  can provide a hose clamp or a cable clamp, or both a hose clamp and a cable clamp in one version. 
         [0026]    According to an embodiment, a flexible hose drop securement system is provided having a clamp member and a hanger body. The clamp member is configured to mount to a main irrigation pipe line of an irrigation device. The hanger body is carried by the clamp member and has an interface surface configured to mate and demate with a sprinkler support body on a flexible hose drop. In one case, the clamp member grips and encircles the main irrigation pipe line. According to other embodiments, hanger body  928  (see  FIG. 1 ) can be eliminated from assembly  934  so as to provide for a clamp that eliminates any need for a U-shaped horseshoe adapter, yet also provides for securement of one or more span cables  925 . Likewise, optionally clamp grooves  974 - 976  (see  FIG. 1 ) can be eliminated from assembly  934 . Further optionally, clamp collar  944  (see  FIG. 1 ) can be provided directly on a main water line so as to eliminate any need for a U-shaped horseshoe adapter. 
         [0027]    In compliance with the statute, embodiments of the invention have been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the entire invention is not limited to the specific features and/or embodiments shown and/or described, since the disclosed embodiments comprise forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.