Abstract:
A drop weight and connector assembly for use with an irrigation component mounted at a lower end of a flexible hose includes a tubular connector component having a first end adapted for insertion into the lower end of the flexible hose and a second end that is threaded and adapted for receiving a corresponding threaded end of the irrigation component. A drop weight component includes a relatively heavy tubular sleeve having one end that cooperates with the barbed end of the connector component to thereby clamp the lower end of the hose between the connector and drop weight components, the sleeve being sufficiently heavy to provide stability to the flexible hose and irrigation component.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to sprinkler heads used on linear and center pivot irrigation systems and, specifically, to a combined clamp and weight used to stabilize a sprinkler head suspended from a water supply pipe. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Linear and center pivot irrigation systems typically include elevated lateral water supply pipes supported on mobile, wheeled carriages. Sprinkler heads are usually mounted directly on the pipe, or suspended from the pipe by flexible hoses, often referred to as “drop” hoses. The latter arrangement is employed to locate the sprinkler heads closer to the ground and/or crops. It is often necessary, however, to stabilize the sprinkler heads when so suspended, so as to minimize the effects of wind, torque due to rotation of the sprinkler head, and even engagement with tall crops, such as corn. 
     It is well known to provide weights in the form of relatively rigid plastic sleeves that are slidably received over the drop hose and that fall under the force of gravity to the lower region of the plastic hose, with the sprinkler head serving as a stop. The sprinkler head itself is secured to the hose utilizing a conventional two-piece connector. One part of the connector has a barbed end to be inserted into the hose and a male threaded end that mates with a female threaded end of the sprinkler head. A second connector part clamps the hose end to the barbed end of the first connector part. The second connector part is typically an Oetiker ear type clamp or a screw type clamping ring. The more prevalent Oetiker ear type clamps, while effective, must be destroyed to remove them in the event it is necessary to change sprinkler heads. 
     It is also known to slide a donut-shaped weight over the flexible drop hose, also located by gravity above the connector and/or sprinkler. Some are designed to slide over part of, and locate on the sprinkler component itself. Such weights are typically made of cast iron, zinc or concrete. Materials chosen are typically designed around a desired 1-2 lb. weight. 
     It is also known to insert a galvanized pipe or polyethylene tube axially between the flexible hose and sprinkler component, the pipe adding the weight necessary for stability, and helping to straighten the drop hose. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, this invention simplifies the hose sprinkler and weight assembly by combining the weight and clamp component of a hose end connector. Specifically, a unique drop weight is provided in the form of two identical half-sleeves with an interior profile that includes a pair of annular, axially spaced ribs, at least one of which is always available to clamp the hose end between the rib and the barbed end of the insert component of the connector. 
     The facing edges of each half-sleeve component of the drop weight may be provided with complimentary pegs and holes to accurately locate the two half-sleeve components, and screw fasteners may be used to clamp the two half-sleeve components about the hose end. This arrangement is also advantageous in that disassembly to change sprinkler heads is facilitated and no new connector or clamp parts are required. 
     Because the half sleeve components are identical, assembly is easy since no special alignment is required. Moreover, by providing interior clamping rings or ribs in opposite end regions of the drop weight, the user can assemble the half-sleeve components with either end facing up. 
     The drop weight itself is preferably constructed of metal and the outer diameter and length can be varied to arrive at the desired weight, i.e., that weight that provides the required stability. It will be appreciated that the inner diameter of the drop weight, as well as the clamping rings or ribs, will be determined by the hose end and connector diameters. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the drop weight may be provided in the form of a substantially solid cylinder, with a removable 180° section at one end thereof that is used to effect clamping of the hose end. 
     In still another but less preferred embodiment, the drop weight may be provided as a solid cylinder with a profiled end adapted to be received within the end of a clamp component of the two-piece hose end connector. While this embodiment does not reduce the number of parts in the assembly, it does provide a convenient way to secure the weight in place on the hose end. 
     In still another embodiment, a cylindrical drop weight is slidably located over a drop hose and threaded onto an integrally threaded fitting, securing the drop weight and also sealing the drop hose to the fitting. The latter function is achieved by providing an internal reduced diameter or neck adjacent the internal thread on the inside surface of the weight that presses the drop hose inwardly about an annular barb formed adjacent the external thread on the fitting or regulator. 
     Accordingly, in its broader aspects, the invention relates to a drop weight and connector assembly for an irrigation component mounted at a lower end of a flexible hose, the assembly comprising a connector component having one end adapted for insertion into the lower end of the flexible hose; and a second connector drop weight component comprising a relatively heavy tubular sleeve having an end that cooperates with the one end of the first component to thereby clamp the lower end of the hose between the connector and drop weight components; the sleeve sufficiently heavy to provide stability to the flexible hose and irrigation component. 
     In still another aspect, the invention relates to a hose clamp and connector assembly for an irrigation component secured to a flexible hose comprising a first component having a first barbed end and a second threaded end; and a second component comprising a cylindrical sleeve, one end of which is adapted to cooperate with the barbed end of the first component, and a second end of which extends beyond the first component, the sleeve being sufficiently heavy to provide stability. 
     In still another aspect, the invention relates to a hose clamp and connector assembly comprising a connector component adapted to have one end thereof inserted into a flexible tube; and a drop weight component comprising a substantially cylindrical sleeve, one end of which includes a removable segment adapted to cooperate with the connector component, wherein the drop weight component extends axially beyond the connector component and is substantially heavy to provide stability. 
     In still another aspect, the invention relates to a hose clamp and connector assembly comprising a cylindrical weight component having a reduced diameter flange at one end thereof; and a connector assembly including a first part having a barbed end adapted for insertion into a hose end, and a second part comprising a cylindrical clamp including a groove for receiving the reduced diameter flange and a clamping ring adapted to clamp the hose end to the barbed end of the first part of the connector assembly. 
     In still another aspect, the invention relates to a drop weight for an irrigation component comprising a cylindrical sleeve having a through bore including a first axial portion of substantially constant inside diameter commencing at one end of said sleeve; an internal thread at an opposite end of the sleeve; and a reduced diameter neck axially between said first axial portion and said internal thread. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial perspective of a conventional irrigation apparatus utilizing weights to stabilize sprinklers suspended from an overhead water supply pipe; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of a sprinkler suspended by a flexible hose, along with a drop weight in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a drop weight and hose end connector shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a drop weight in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drop weight shown in FIG. 4, with the parts assembled; 
     FIG. 6 is a section view through a drop weight in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a drop weight in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a side section through a drop weight and fitting in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to FIG. 1, conventional irrigation apparatus  10 , which could be of the linear or pivot type, includes an elevated water supply conduit or pipe  12 , supported on wheeled carriages  14 . Sprinkler heads  16  may be mounted directly on the pipe  12  or may be suspended from the pipe by means of flexible tubes or hoses  18 . In the latter case, a conventional hose end connector (not visible in FIG. 1) is inserted into the hose end and clamped by means of, for example, an Oetiker ear type clamp, or a screw-type clamp ring. 
     As mentioned above, one prior art solution to the stability problem includes a relatively heavy plastic sleeves  20  slid over the flexible hoses  18  as the latter are suspended from the pipe  12  so that, under the force of gravity, the sleeve weights fall to the bottom of the hose, stopped by an exposed flange on the hose end connector or by the sprinkler head itself. Weights of this type are typically 18-24 inches in length. The lower ends of the sleeve may be slotted at the inner diameter to accommodate raised projections on the clamps, particularly on the Oetiker ear type clamps. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the present invention provides a combined drop weight and hose end connector clamp component. Specifically, the drop weight  22  includes a pair of identical half-sleeve components  24 ,  26 , having respective outside or exterior surfaces  28 ,  30  and respective interior surfaces  32 ,  34 . The interior surfaces  32 ,  34  define a through bore when the half-sleeve components are assembled. 
     Half-sleeve component  24  is provided with a pair of pins or pegs  36 ,  38  at opposed “corners” of interface edges  40 ,  42  and are adapted to seat within complementary holes (not visible but similar to holes  48 ,  50 ) in the interface edges  44 ,  46  of sleeve component  26 . Similarly, sleeve component  26  is provided with pins or pegs (not visible but similar to pins  36 ,  38 ) adapted to seat within complementary holes  48 ,  50  in the interface edges  40 ,  42  of sleeve component  24 . 
     Fastener holes  52 ,  54  in sleeve component  24  align with fastener holes  56 ,  58  in sleeve component  26  so that the sleeve components can be securely clamped together along the respective interface edges  40 ,  42  and  44 ,  46  by screws  57 ,  59 . The fastener holes are located approximately mid-way along the length of the sleeve component, axially between semi-annular rings or ribs  60 ,  62  that define annular clamping rings when the sleeve components  24 ,  26  are assembled. 
     The drop weight  22  as described above is intended to be used with a conventional insert connector component  64  of a typical two-piece hose end connector. Connector insert component  64  has a barbed end  66  to be inserted into the end of hose  18 , and a threaded end  68  to which a conventional sprinkler head  16  (FIGS. 1,  2 ) is secured. A “bolt head”  70  is interposed between the barbed end  66  and the threaded end  68  and may be used to aid in tightening the threaded connection with a sprinkler head  16 . It will be appreciated, however, that threaded end  68  may be secured to a conventional pressure regulator or other specialty device which, in turn, mounts a sprinkler head  16 . Alternatively, the hose barb may be an integral component of a pressure regulator or sprinkler. 
     With the connector component  64  inserted into the hose end, the drop weight sleeve components  24 ,  26  can be secured about the hose end, with the lower end of the drop weight  22  surrounding the barbed end  66  of the connector component  64 . 
     Note that, regardless of the up/down orientation of the sleeve components  24 ,  26 , one of the annular clamping rings  60  or  62  will engage and clamp the hose  18  along the length of the barbed end  66  of the connector component  64 , thus insuring good clamping of the hose end to the hose end connector, as well as secure, stationary attachment of the drop weight  22  to the hose  18 . 
     The drop weight  22  is preferably made of a corrosion resistant metal such as zinc but other materials could be used as well. The outer diameter of the drop weight and its axial length may be adjusted, depending on the material selection, to arrive at the desired weight which would normally be expected to be 1-2 lbs. or more. Thus, the drop weight is substantially heavier than the hose connector insert component that weights only a few ounces. Using zinc material, an exemplary clamp may have an outside diameter of about 2 inches and an axial length of about 4 inches. 
     It will be appreciated that by employing the above described drop weight, the conventional clamp component of the hose end connector can be eliminated, thereby reducing cost and facilitating ease of assembly and disassembly of components from the flexible drop hose. 
     In an alternative drop weight embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the metal weight  72  is formed as a substantially cylindrical sleeve  74  but with a relatively short axial segment of semi-cylindrical shape removed. The removed segment is replaced by a clamp component or segment  76 , interface edges  78 ,  80  of which are adapted to engage the respective interface edges  82 ,  84  on the weight. Self-tapping screw fasteners  86 ,  88  may be used to secure the preferably plastic segment  76  via aligned fastener hole pairs  90 ,  92  and  94 ,  96 . A clamping ring formed by semi-annular ribs  98 ,  100  serve to positively clamp the hose end to the connector component. 
     In still another but less preferred embodiment (FIG.  6 ), the lower end  102  of a one (or two) piece drop weight sleeve  104  is machined to include a profiled end  106  that includes a reduced diameter annular flange  108 . The latter is adapted to be received in an annular groove  110  of a complementary two-piece clamp component  112 . The clamp component includes an internal clamping ring  114  that clamps the hose end on the barbed end  116  of a connector component  118 . The clamp component  112  comprises a pair of semi-cylindrical halves  120 ,  122  that are secured by screw fasteners  124  (one shown). This embodiment secures the drop weight  104  to the clamp component  112  but otherwise does not reduce the number of parts required. 
     Turning now to FIG. 7, a drop weight  126  in accordance with another exemplary embodiment has a substantially cylindrical outer surface  128  and an interior through bore  130  having a first inside diameter along a smooth axial portion  132  extending from one end of the weight. A reduced diameter neck  134  is formed axially adjacent the portion  132 , with a radially innermost (or smallest ID) ring at  136  between a pair of tapered portions or ramps  138 ,  140 . An internal thread  142  is formed at the other end of the bore  130 , adjacent the neck  134 . 
     A regulator  144 , secured at one end to a sprinkler  146 , is provided at its opposite or inlet end with an external thread  148  and an extended connector portion  150  formed with an annular barb  152  axially between relatively smaller and larger diameter portions  153 ,  155 . With the drop hose  154  pushed over the barb  152 , and with the edge  156  of the drop hose  154  abutting or at least closely adjacent the thread  148 , the drop weight  126  is pushed along the drop hose  154  such that the drop weight may be threaded onto the regulator. As the drop weight is rotated into threaded engagement, the neck  134  moves toward the barb  152 , pressing or clamping the drop hose  154  into sealing engagement with the barb. Note that the innermost ring  136  ultimately lies radially adjacent the remote end of the connector portion  150  and axially adjacent the barb  152  at the thread limit, thus insuring no damage to the drop hose. At the same time, the pressure effected by the neck  134  is sufficient to cause sealing engagement between the drop hose and the regulator barb  152 , thus eliminating any possibility of leakage along the connector portion  150  and thread  148 . 
     The drop weight  126  preferably weights 1-2 lbs. and may be constructed of any of the materials mentioned above. 
     It will be appreciated that the drop hose and drop weight could also be attached directly to a sprinkler component having an externally threaded end similar to the regulator as described above. 
     FIG. 8 shows yet another arrangement where the connector or fitting  158  is provided as a discrete component, adapted for connection to any of a variety of irrigation devices. More specifically, the fitting  158  includes a first connector portion  160  with relatively smaller and larger diameter portions  162 ,  164  separated by an annular barb  166  similar to the connector portion  150  in FIG. 7, along with an externally threaded portion  168 . Here, however, the fitting is also formed with a ribbed hand grip section  170  and a standard ¾ NPT pipe thread end  172 . This arrangement permits connection to various irrigation devices including spray heads of different design, regulators and the like. Of course, the threaded end  172  can be altered to suit requirements, for example, as a square-thread adapter or the like. 
     In this embodiment, the drop weight  174  may be formed with a threaded insert  176  (in contrast to the integral arrangement in FIG. 7) to facilitate manufacture. The insert  176  is threadably connected to the threaded portion  168  of the fitting. Thus, the fitting  158  otherwise interacts with the drop weight  174  in a manner similar to the embodiment shown in FIG.  7 . 
     Advantageously, all of the weight clamp or drop weight components described herein may be provided with exterior “flats” to facilitate gripping with a wrench to prevent the weight clamps from turning when tightening the downstream irrigation components. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.