Abstract:
A fluid supply line is provided to reduce the labor and cost required for dripline system installations by providing predetermined fitting locations where driplines can be attached. The supply line consists of a conduit having a side wall, a connector extending through the side wall of the conduit, the connector having a conduit connecting segment extending outside the conduit and an inlet segment extending into the conduit, and the inlet segment being connected to the side wall of the conduit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/754,396, filed Jan. 18, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/651,433, filed May 24, 2012, both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to fluid delivery and, more particularly, to conduits with fluid conduit connectors. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Traditional installations of dripline systems, especially larger grid type layouts, require a significant amount of the components to be assembled on site during installation. A typical dripline system requires a supply line to feed lateral extending driplines. A flusher line also is needed to flush the system. One approach is to use polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe and fittings, such as T-fittings, to provide lateral connections for the driplines. A main drawback to this approach is that it requires a significant amount of labor, which increases the cost of such systems. 
         [0004]    More specifically, the piping must be measured and cut, and the T-fitting must be attached. The cut end of the piping must be cleaned to remove any hanging chads of plastic hanging on to the cut end. The cut end outer surface of the piping and the inner surface of the T-fitting should be roughened for a better connection. Then, primer is applied to the roughened surface. After a short period of time, PVC glue is applied over the primer and the connection is made by turning one of the components into or onto the other. 
         [0005]    In addition to increased costs, this approach creates potential for the grid to be unevenly created and can lead to plastic chads, dirt and other foreign debris getting into the system because the fabrication of the system typically occurs in the trenches where the lines will be buried. As a result, the system also must be flushed to clean any of the foreign debris. 
         [0006]    There have been attempts to reduce the amount of labor required for installation with the use of special fittings, such as insert fittings or saddle tees, that tap into the piping. However, these methods still require a significant amount of labor in the field to install the special fittings and can lead to inaccurate spacing between the drip lines and debris in the lines. 
         [0007]    Thus, there is a desire for an improved supply line that reduces the costs of installation, provides a guide for installing a more accurate dripline grid system, and eliminates unwanted foreign debris from inside the lines. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a main supply line with lateral driplines; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lateral connector with a cap attached thereto and the main supply line being transparent; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of the lateral connector of  FIG. 2  with the main supply line being transparent; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational side view of the connector of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the plug of the connector of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the connector of  FIG. 2  taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the lateral connector of  FIG. 2  with the cap removed and a lateral line connected thereto and the main supply being transparent; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an elevational view of the cap of the connector of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of an alternate embodiment of a lateral connector attached to the main supply line; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a cross-section view of a second alternate embodiment of a lateral connector attached to the main supply line; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a cross-section view of a third alternate embodiment of a lateral connector attached to the main supply line; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a cross-section view of a fourth alternate embodiment of a lateral connector attached to the main supply line; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a cross-section view of a fifth alternate embodiment of a lateral connector attached to the main supply line; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is an exploded side elevation view of a lateral connector with the main supply line; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of the lateral connector of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of the lateral connector of  FIGS. 13 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the cap of the lateral connector of  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , there is shown a preassembled main supply line  10 . The preassembled main supply line  10  reduces labor and improves installation by providing predetermined fitting locations where driplines can be attached. In addition to labor benefits, the predetermined spacing will improve accuracy of the irrigation system since measurements will not have to be carried out during installation. This will aid in providing an accurate installation of a dripline grid. It also will reduce the potential for plastic and other foreign dirt and debris to enter the main supply line during installation. 
         [0026]    The main supply line  10  includes a series of pre-installed lateral connectors  12 . Each connector allows a lateral line, such as a dripline  14 , to be connected to the supply line  10 . The connectors are typically spaced at equidistant intervals, such as 12 inches, along the supply line  10  to provide proper spacing for the driplines in the field. They, however, may be spaced at varying intervals, depending on the application. The main supply line  10  and driplines  14  may be buried for subsurface application of water or remain on the surface for topical application of water. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the lateral connector  12  is shown together with the main supply line  10 . The main supply line  10  may be made of plastic, such as polyethylene, and may have any dimensions for its inside and outside diameters, including for example, an inside diameter in the range of 0.520 to 1.060 inches and an outside diameter in the range of 0.620 to 1.184 inches. The connector  12  will have to be sized according to the dimensions of the inside and outside diameter of the main supply line  10 . 
         [0028]    The connector  12  includes a connector body  16 , a stabilization plug  18 , and a protective cap  20 . The components can be made from a sturdy, break-resistant plastic, such as high-density polyethylene. The connector body  16  has a connector segment  22  extending laterally from the outside of the supply line  10  and an inlet segment  24  extending laterally to the inside of the supply line  10 . The connector segment  22  is configured to be inserted into and grip a lateral line, such as a dripline  14 , to form a watertight connection. The connector segment  22  also is configured to be inserted into the protective cap  20 . The supply line  10  is typically shipped in a spool like configuration so the cap  20  protects the supply line  10  from puncturing itself. The cap  20  also prevents debris from entering the connector  12  during field installation, which aids against clogging. The cap  20  is removed to attach driplines. The inlet segment  24  taps fluid from the supply line  10  for the dripline  14 . The stabilization plug  18  is inserted through the supply line  10  on the side opposite of the connector body  16  and interconnects with the inlet segment  24  of the connector body  16 . The plug  18  provides additional stability to the connector  12  by creating an additional constraint against wobbling. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the connector segment  22  of the body  16  has a generally cylindrical shape defining an opening  26  at one end and a passage thereafter. The opening  26  provides an outlet for the fluid from the main supply line  10 . On the exterior, the connector segment  22  includes an outer barb  28 , an outer cylindrical body  30 , an inner barb  32  and an outer stop collar  34 . For example, the diameter of the opening  26  could be 0.512 inches, the diameter for the cylindrical body  30  could be 0.545 inches, and the diameter for the outer stop collar  34  could be 0.65 inches. The opening  26  opens to a passage through the cylindrical body  30 . 
         [0030]    The outer barb  28 , the inner barb  32  and the outer stop collar  34  extend annularly around the outer body  30 . The maximum diameter of the outer barb  28  preferably is larger than the maximum diameter of the inner barb  32 , and the diameter of collar  34  preferably is larger than both the barbs  28  and  32 . For example, the maximum diameters of the outer barb  28  could be 0.667 inches and the maximum diameter of the inner barb could be 0.59 inches. The depth of the outer barb  28  could be 0.061 inches and the depth of the inner barb  32  could be 0.023 inches. The axial length of the outer barb  28  could be 0.27 inches and the axial length of the inner barb  32  could be 0.09 inches. 
         [0031]    The collar  34  provides a stop that engages a supply line when the connector has been inserted into the supply line and that engages the terminal end of a dripline being attached to the connector. The outer barb  28  and the inner barb  32  are spaced apart a predetermined distance that enables the outer barb  28  to provide the primary grip on the dripline and the inner barb  32  to provide a secondary grip on the dripline. If the barbs  28  and  32  are spaced too close together, the dripline will extend over the inner barb  32  due to the larger diameter of the outer barb  28  and not be gripped by the inner bar  30 . For example, a spacing between the barbs  28  and  32  could be 0.25 inches. 
         [0032]    The inlet segment  24  includes a first generally cylindrical segment  36  and a second generally cylindrical segment  38 . The outside diameter of the first segment  36  is larger than the outside diameter of the second segment  38 . For example, the outside diameter of the first segment  36  could be 0.415 inches and the diameter of the second segment  38  could be 0.355 inches. The two segments  36  and  38  are separated by an inner stop collar  40  with an inner annular cam surface  42 . The length of the first segment  36  could be 0.28 inches, the length of the second segment  38  could be 0.375 inches, and the diameter of the stop collar  40  could be 0.451 inches. The first segment  36  has a smaller outer diameter than that of the connector segment  22 . The diameter of the first segment  36  is sized so that it can be inserted into the preexisting holes in the supply line  10 , while the connector segment  22  is sized to accommodate a drip line. The inner stop collar  40  circumscribes the transition between the first and second segments  36  and  38  and is beveled by the cam surface  42 . The cam surface  42  assists with the insertion of the connector  16  into the hole of the line  10 . 
         [0033]    The second segment  38  includes at least one inlet port  44  and preferably three inlet ports  44 . The inlet ports  44  are equally spaced from one another about the second segment  38 . The ports  44  can be of any shape and preferably rectangular in shape. The area of the ports  44  is coordinated to provide the desired amount of fluid supply in the particular application. For example, the dimensions of a rectangular port could be approximately 0.25 inches by 0.112 inches. Each inlet port  44  is defined by an inlet port perimeter  46 . The perimeter  46  could be rounded or angled to assist smooth intake flow. A passageway interconnects the ports  44  and the opening  26  to provide flow through the connector  12 . By way of example, the passageway could have a minimum diameter of 0.19 inches and a maximum diameter of 0.438 inches. 
         [0034]    The inlet segment  24  also includes a third segment  48  having an outer annular cam surface  50  and a plug opening  52  to receive the stabilization plug  18 . By way of example, the maximum outer diameter of the third segment  48  could be 0.395 inches. The cam surface  50  also assists with insertion of the connector  16  into the supply line  10 . The opening  52  extends through segment  48  to form a socket  54 . The length of socket  54 , for example, could be 0.112 inches. As explained further below, the socket  54  includes a constriction that engages with the stabilization plug  18  to lock the plug  18  in the connector  12 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the stabilization plug  18  includes at one end a conical tip  56  and at the other end a stop collar  58 . In between these ends, there is a neck  60  and a cylindrical wall  64 . The tip  56  is defined by a cam surface  66  that assists with insertion of the plug  18  into the connector  16 . The neck  60  is between a retainer ledge  68  of the tip  56  and an annular stop surface  62 . The ledge  68  has a lock surface  70  which steps into the neck  60 . The annular stop surface  62  transitions to the neck  60  to the cylindrical wall  64 , which has an outer surface  72 . The wall  64  terminates at the stop collar  58  having a perimeter  74 , preferably of circular configuration. As explained below, the ledge  68 , the lock surface  70 , the neck  60 , the stop surface  62  and collar  58  lock the plug  18  in the socket  54  of the third segment  48  of connector  16 . The overall length of the plug, for example, could be 1.92 inches, and the distance between the neck  60  and stop collar  58  could be 0.238 inches. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , to assemble the connector body  16  with the line  10 , the connector  16  is inserted into the supply line  10  through an opening  76  formed in the existing main supply line  10 . The opening  76  is preferably preformed in the supply line  10 , such as by drilling or punching. The opening  76  is defined by an opening perimeter  78 . The inner and outer annular cam surfaces  42  and  50  deflect the opening perimeter  78  and assist the connector  16  to pass through the opening  76 . When the connector  16  has traveled a predetermined distance, such as approximately 1.08 inches, the outer stop collar  34  contacts the line  10  about the perimeter  78  of the opening  76  and prevents the connector  16  from traveling any further into the line  10 . The inner stop collar  40 , adjacent to the inner cam surface  42 , prevents the connector  16  from being removed from the line  10 . A supply line wall  80  about the perimeter  78  lies between the inner collar  40  and the outer collar  34 . The perimeter  78  and adjacent area about the opening  76  forms a seal against the first segment  36  of the inlet segment  24  to prevent water from leaking. 
         [0037]    The stabilizing plug  18  extends through the wall of line  10  into the socket of the plug segment  48 . The opening  76  in the line  10  can be prefabricated, such as by drilling or punching, to accommodate the plug, or the tip  56  can create an opening by puncturing line  10  itself. The cam surface  66  of the tip  56  creates a wedge to deflect a perimeter  81  and a surrounding wall of the line  10  at the plug opening  52  to assist in inserting the plug  18 . The constriction in the socket  54  is bound by an annular protrusion  82  extending into the socket  54 . The surface  66  also deflects the annular protrusion  82  to widen the annular protrusion  82  so the ledge  68  can pass through and the neck  60  receives the annular protrusion  82  to lock the plug  18  in the socket  54 . 
         [0038]    The stop collar  58  prevents the plug  18  from being inserted too far into the connector  16 . During insertion, the plug  18  also draws the wall  80  of the line  10  about the plug opening  52  into the socket  54  to create a seal. Once the lock surface  70  moves past the protrusion  82 , the opening created by the annular protrusion  82  adjusts to more of the size of the neck  60  since now the neck  60  receives the protrusion  82 . The smaller opening created by the protrusion  82  secures the tip  56  in place since it is sandwiched between the larger diameter ledge  68  and the annular stop surface  62 . 
         [0039]    The cap  20  on the connector segment  22 , having a wall  84 , is installed over the connector  16  and the outer barb  28 . The outer barb  28  presses outward on the inside of the cap wall  84  to grip the cap. The inner diameter of cap  20  is slightly smaller than the maximum diameter of the barb  28 . For example, the inner diameter of the cap may be 0.62 inches, and the maximum outer diameter of the outer barb may be 0.667 inches. The wall  84  stretches around barb  28  and creates a snug fit, holding the cap  20  in place over the connector  16 . A recess  86  in the top of cap  20  sits within the connector opening  26  and creates a seal around the opening  26 . The cap  20  can be removed or left installed, for example, when the connector will not be used for a lateral dripline. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the connector  16  and the supply line  10  are shown with the cap  20  removed. The cap  20  can be left installed if a particular connector  16  does not need to be used, but to install a lateral line, such as a dripline, the cap  20  is removed. The dripline  14  is press fit onto connector segment  22 . The barbs  28  and  32  press outward on dripline  14  because the inner diameter of dripline  14  is slightly smaller than the maximum diameters of barbs  28  and  32 . The dripline  14  stretches around the barbs  28  and  32  and the outer edge of the barbs  28  and  32  grips the dripline to hold it in place on the connector  16 . The gripping should be sufficient enough that a predetermined pressure in the system, depending on the application, will not burst the connection. For example, for typical irrigation applications, the connection should be able to withstand at least a supply pressure of 50 psi. The stop collar  34  prevents the dripline from being pressed too far onto the connector  16 . 
         [0041]    Water or an appropriate fluid flows along the path  88  through main supply line  10  and into the inlet ports  44 . The inlet ports  44  are positioned with the line  10  to intake the appropriate flow for the desired application and allow the remainder of the fluid to flow past in order to feed other connectors  12  where appropriate. Fluid flows through the ports  44  into the connector body  16 . From the body  16 , fluid flows into the dripline  14  through the opening  26 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the cap  20  has a tear strip  90  that is bounded on two sides by frangible connections  92 . The tear strip  90  has a handle  94  that protrudes radially from the cap  20 . The frangible connections  92  are a thin walled section of the strip  90 , which can be formed in the cap wall  84  during molding or by later removal of material. When the handle  94  is pulled away from the cap  20 , stress occurs with the material breaking at the weakest or thinnest areas, being the frangible connections  92 . This enables the strip  90  to separate from the cap  20  as the frangible connections  92  tear upward. The handle  94  has a gripping rib  96  attached at its outer end, which assists the user to grasp the handle and apply force to separate the strip  90 . Separating the strip  90  from the cap  20  enables the cap wall  84  to flex radially outward. Since the wall  84  can now flex outward around barb  28 , the compression fit around the outer barb  28  is released, and the cap  20  can be removed. 
         [0043]    During manufacturing, the main supply line  10  maybe be extruded and then the holes for the connector  12  and stabilization plug  18  may be formed, by drilling or punching, on diametrically opposite sides of the supply line  10 . Next, the connector  12  and plug  18  are inserted into their respectable holes and locked together. The connector  12  and plug  18  may be inserted in series or simultaneously. The line  10  is then coiled and packaged. The preferred method of manufacture is where all steps are automated and performed in a single in-line process. Alternatively, the steps could be done in different off-line processes and/or some could be done manually. 
         [0044]    Alternatively, the connector body  16  could be used without the stabilization plug  18 . In one embodiment, a distal end  98  of the segment  38  may be staked to an inside surface  100  of the line  10 . It may be welded or glued  102  to the inside surface  100 . In such case, the socket  58  is not necessary, and the end of the connector body may be a surface used to weld or glue the connector body  16  to the line  10  (see  FIG. 9 ). As another alternative, a portion  102  of the wall of the line  10  may be formed so to insert into the socket  58  to stake the connector body  16  (see  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0045]    Another alternate embodiment of the connector body  16  is shown in  FIG. 11 . With this embodiment, the segment  38  includes a stake  104  that has a pointed end  106  that pierces the wall  100  of line  10  upon insertion of the connector body  16 . There is no need to pre-form a hole for the connector body on either side of the line  10 . Alternatively, pilot holes may be made to assist the piercing, if desired, or pre-formed holes may be used as desired. The stake  104  may be molded as a single piece with the connector body  16 , or it can be welded or glued to the connector body  16 . Once extended through the wall  100 , the pointed end  106  can be peened, such as by ultrasonic staking or heat staking. This process may connect the pointed end  106  to a flat head like configuration, such as the head  112  shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0046]    A further embodiment is shown in  FIG. 12 . In this embodiment, the segment  38  includes a plug  108  that is forced through a hole pre-formed in the wall  100  of the line  10 . The plug  108  includes a neck  110  and head  112 . The neck  110  is preferably slightly smaller in diameter than the hole, while the head  112  is larger in diameter than the hole. The distance between the head  110  and the stop collar  34  is coordinated, preferably, to be approximately the outer diameter of the line  10 . The portion of the wall defining the hole seals around the neck  110  and against the head  108 . The plug  108  may be molded as a single piece with the connector body  16 , or it can be welded or glued to the connector body  16 . 
         [0047]    A further embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 13 ,  14 ,  15  and  16 . In this embodiment, a connector body  114  has a  90  degree configuration with an inlet segment  116  extending perpendicularly from the supply line  10  and a connector segment  118  extending perpendicularly to the inlet segment  116 . This configuration provides flexibility in installation solutions. The connector body  114  can be rotated within the opening  76  about 360 degrees, allowing an opening  120  of the connector segment  118  to face in any direction in its plane of rotation. The ability of the body  114  to rotate provides the flexibility for driplines to be attached on either side of the supply line  10 , which could be desirable to simplify installation. A dripline also could be attached at a wider range of angles with respect to the supply line  10 , which would enable a dripline to be laid out in a variety of non-conventional patterns, such as angled and non-repeating. 
         [0048]    The connector segment  118  includes an outer barb  122  and an outer stop collar  124 . The outer barb  122  and the outer stop collar  124  extend annularly around the segment  118 . The dimensions of the outer barb  122  are the same that described before. The collar  124  provides a stop that engages a supply line when the connector segment  118  has been inserted into the supply line and that engages the terminal end of a dripline being attached to the connector. The outer diameter of the collar  124  is the same as that described before. The outer barb  122  provides the primary grip on the dripline. 
         [0049]    The inlet segment  116  includes a first generally cylindrical segment  126  and a second conical segment  128 . The conical segment  128  has a large portion  130  and a small portion  132 . The outside diameter of the first segment  126  has a smaller diameter than the large portion  130 . The small portion  132  has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the large opening. For example, the outer diameter of the first segment  126  could be 0.55 inches, the outer diameter of the large portion  130  could be 0.6 inches, and the outer diameter of the small portion  132  could be 0.454 inches. 
         [0050]    The surface between the large portion  130  and the first segment  126  defines a ledge  134 . The ledge  134  prevents the connector  114  from being removed from the line  10 . Downstream of the ledge  134 , the first segment  126  also has a second ledge  136  that can engage the outside of the tube  10 . The distance between the ledges  134 ,  136  is designed to be coordinated with the length of the inward formed tube material and the thickness of the tube. It is preferred to eliminate as much play as possible to provide a good seal and secure engagement at the insertion. The small portion  132  is sized so that it can be inserted into the preexisting holes in the supply line  10 , while the connector segment  118  is sized to accommodate a drip line. A cam surface  138  joins the large portion  130  and small portion  132 . The cam surface  138  assists with the insertion of the connector  114  into the hole of the line  10 . 
         [0051]    The first segment  126  includes four pockets  140  extending from the terminal end along the inner surface. The second segment  128  includes four tabs  142  extending from its terminal end. The tabs  142  fit into the pockets  140  to orient the second segment  128  with regards to the first segment  126 . This also creates a press-fit joining the first segment  126  to the second segment  128 . The first segment  126  and the second segment  128  also may be welded together at this point by any conventional method such as heat or sonic welding. They also may be bonded together by an adhesive. The height of the pocket  140  could be 0.095 inches, the width could be 0.125 inches, and the depth could be 0.050 inches. The height of the tab  142  could be 0.085 inches, the width could be 0.120 inches, and the depth could be 0.045 inches. 
         [0052]    The conical segment  128  includes at least one inlet port  128  and preferably four inlet ports  128 . The inlet ports  128  are equally spaced from one another about the conical segment  128 . The ports  128  can be of any shape and preferably trapezoidal in shape. The area of the ports  128  is coordinated to provide the desired amount of fluid supply in the particular application. For example, the general dimensions of a port could be between approximately 0.185 inches by 0.250 inches and 0.235 inches by 0.475 inches. A passageway interconnects the ports  128  and the opening  120  to provide flow through the connector body  114 . By way of example, the passageway could have a minimum diameter of 0.272 inches and a maximum diameter of 0.55 inches. 
         [0053]    The inlet segment  128  supports a socket  144  at its terminal end. The socket  144  receives the plug  18  while securing the connection to the diametrically opposed side wall of the tube  10 . This provides a secure attachment to the tube as discussed above. The plug  10  has two flattened surfaces  143  at the terminal end to provide a gripping surface. The flattened surfaces  143  allows the plug  18  to be handled more easily, assisting the assembly and installation of the plug  18  into the supply line  10 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 17 , the cap  145  has two tabs  146 . Each tab is defined by two frangible connections  147 . Each tab  146  has a curved protrusion  148  that is shaped so that it can be gripped by a tool such as pliers. When the tool is rotated, the tab  146  and the frangible connections  147  break. Doing this frees the cap  145  by releasing the compression fit around the barbs  122  as previously described. The ability to rotate the tab  146  eases the removal of the cap  145  because the user does need displace the tool to pull the tab  146  away from the cap  145 . The user can instead use rotational leverage by rotating the plier head along the cap  145  while gripping the tab  146 . 
         [0055]    As with the initial embodiments, these alternative embodiments may be manufactured with the installation being done inline with forming the dripline or may be done offline after the dripline is formed. 
         [0056]    While the foregoing description is with respect to specific examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations of the above that fall within the scope of the concepts described herein and the appended claims.