Patent Publication Number: US-10787784-B2

Title: Field drainage system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/728,259, filed Sep. 7, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to field drainage systems and methods, and in particular to a drainage network including subsurface trunk lines fed by risers extending above grade. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Agricultural fields and other areas benefit from effective drainage. For example, topsoil conservation is important in many areas. Uncontrolled drainage can cause erosion problems and loss of topsoil, which is important to the productivity of agricultural operations. Such systems should accommodate a variety of field topographies and be easily adaptable with drainage lines (e.g., trunks) that can be installed at different depths below grade. 
     Heretofore there has not been available a field drainage system or method with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally provides a system and method for effectively draining agricultural and other fields, which can efficiently be installed and accommodate a variety of field topographies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a field drainage system embodying an aspect or embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, side elevational view of the field drainage system. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective of a portion of the field drainage system. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of the field drainage system. 
         FIG. 5  shows the field drainage system installed with a riser extension inverted for measuring a cut-off location to remove excess length. 
         FIG. 6  shows the field drainage system with the riser extension right-side-up. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
     As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
     II. Preferred Embodiment 
     As shown in the drawings, a field drainage system  2  embodying an aspect of the present invention can be installed in fields  12  and other areas requiring surface water and runoff drainage. Main lines or trunks  14  are laid in excavated trenches at an appropriate depth. The main lines  14  include openings  16  located at spaced intervals and oriented upwardly. 
     A respective riser assembly  17  is placed over and communicates with each trunk opening  16 . Each riser assembly  17  includes a saddle  18  with an arcuate saddle base  20  and a coupling  22  extending downwardly through the base  20  and extending upwardly from the saddle base  20 . The coupling  22  defines an inside diameter. A riser extension  24  of the riser assembly  17  includes a lower, corrugated subsection  26  and an upper, smooth-walled subsection  28 , which includes an annular, inwardly-extending stop  30  spaced slightly below an upper end  32  of the riser extension  17 . A lower end  34  of the riser extension  17  is telescopically received in the saddle coupling  22 . 
     The riser assembly  17  further includes a riser extension  36  with an open, lower end  38  received in the saddle inlet coupling  22  and a closed, upper end  40 . Vertical ribs  42  extend longitudinally along the riser extension  36  between its ends  38 ,  40  and facilitate sloughing trash and other debris. Moreover, the vertical ribs strengthen the riser extensions  36 . Water is admitted into the riser extension  36  through openings  44 . Each opening  44  is preferably about two inches in diameter, which allows relatively small debris objects to flow into the riser extension  36 , and blocks larger objects, such as plant stalks and other field debris (i.e., “field trash”). The riser extension is preferably designed to minimize trash wraparound, which could interfere with field drainage. 
     When the system is installed, the riser extension  24  can be inverted ( FIG. 5 ) and the grade level can be used to determine the excess length of riser extension  24  to cut off. For final installation the riser extension  24  is placed right-side-up ( FIG. 6 ) and its corrugated, lower end  34  is received in the saddle inlet coupling  22 . 
     The saddle  18  can optionally be secured to the trunk line  14  by an encircling connector  46  ( FIGS. 1, 5, 6 ). Without limitation, the encircling connector  46  can comprise a hose clamp or a twist tie. Alternatively, the saddle  18  can be secured to the trunk line  14  by fasteners, such as screws, wires and other fasteners. 
     The components of the field drainage system can be installed in various configurations to accommodate field conditions. For example, the pipe section diameters can vary based on anticipated drainage flow, field trash and other variables. Depending on the depth of the main line (trunk)  14 , one or more additional riser extension(s)  24  can be installed. For example, with the main or trunk line  14  buried relatively deeply below grade  12 , such an extended riser extension (or sections)  24  of dual-wall pipe may be needed to elevate the riser extension  36  to a proper elevation above finished grade  12 . The riser extensions  24  can comprise dual-wall corrugated pipe, similar to the lower subsection  26  of the riser extension  24 . Fields  12  can be provided with multiple trunks  14 , each receiving runoff and standing water from multiple riser assemblies  17 . Networks of such drainage system components can be placed for gravity drainage. For example, the trunks  14  can drain to natural watercourses, ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, etc., or to lower-elevation areas for additional draining, surface application, pumping, etc. 
     The drainage system  2  is usable in both tillage and no-till applications, and in terraced and non-terraced fields. The components of the system  2  can comprise any suitable material, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. 
     It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.