Center pivot irrigation gooseneck with varying cross-sectional diameters
AssigneeNelson Irrigation Corporation
InventorsCraig B. Nelson, Reid A. Nelson, Riley D. Greenwood, Chad D. Leinweber, Michael R. Townsend
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gooseneck pipe includes a first pipe half having a first radiused centerline curve, and a second pipe half fixed to the first pipe half and having a second radiused centerline curve. The first and second pipe halves define a flow path. Cross-sectional diameters of the first and second pipe halves vary along the flow path. The varying diameters of the first and second pipe halves serve to mitigate pressure losses due in part to Dean vortices or secondary flow patterns in the flow path when a fluid is turned in the gooseneck pipe.
Claims25
A gooseneck pipe comprising:
- a first pipe half having a first radiused centerline curve;
- and
- a second pipe half fixed to the first pipe half and having a second radiused centerline curve, the first and second pipe halves defining a flow path for a fluid under pressure, wherein a flow direction the cross-sectional diameter of the first pine half increases along the flow path to a joint between to pipe half and the second pipe half, and the cross-sectional diameter of the second pipe half decreases along the flow path from the joint between the first pipe half and the second pipe half.
(canceled)
A gooseneck pipe comprising:
- a first pipe half having a first radiused centerline curve;
- and
- a second pipe half fixed to the first pipe half and having a second radiused centerline curve, different from the first radiused centerline curve, the first and second pipe halves defining a flow path,
- wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the first pipe half increases along the flow path, wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the second pipe half decreases along the flow path, and
- wherein the first radiused centerline curve is larger than the second radiused centerline curve.
A method of manufacturing a gooseneck pipe, the method comprising:
- molding a first pipe half having a first radiused centerline curve;
- molding a second pipe half having a second radiused centerline curve different from the first radiused centerline curve, the first and second pipe halves defining a flow path, wherein the molding processes are practiced such that cross-sectional diameters of the first and second pipe halves vary along the flow path;
- and
- connecting the first pipe half and the second pipe half.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.