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US 9,414,551 B2Granted
Irrigation pipe connector
AssigneeNetafim, Ltd.
InventorsAbed Masarwa, James Wallace Belford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An irrigation pipe connector has a core that is adapted to connect to an irrigation element and a wing that is attachable to a wall of a pipe. The wing is provided with resiliency to allow the connector to deform in response to changing fluid pressures in the pipe. In addition, the wing may be provided with a thin segment in order to reduce potential damage during welding of the wing to the wall of the pipe.
Claims24
An irrigation pipe connector comprising:
- a core having an axis (C) and being adapted to connect to an irrigation element;
- and
- a wing connected to the core and extending radially outwardly therefrom relative to the axis (C), the wing comprises a leg and a flange, the flange being adapted to attach to a wall of an irrigation pipe, the leg being attached at a first end thereof to the flange and at a second end thereof to the core, the flange comprises a radially inward segment having a first radial length L1, a peripheral segment having a second radial length L2 that extends radially outwardly relative to the radially inward segment, and a transition segment having a third radial length L3 positioned between the radially inward segment and the peripheral segment;
- wherein:
- a thickness W2 of the peripheral segment is smaller than a thickness W1 of the radially inward segment, the thicknesses of the segments being taken in a direction along the axis (C);
- there is a step difference between the thickness of the peripheral segment and the thickness of radially inward segment;
- W2 is less than half of W1;
- L1>L3;
- and
- L2>L3.
7 more elements
An irrigation pipe comprising:
- a lumen including a pipe wall, the pipe wall comprising a polymer material;
- and
- at least one irrigation pipe connector attached to an inner surface of the pipe wall, the at least one irrigation pipe connector comprising:
- a core having an axis (C) and being adapted to connect to an irrigation element;
- and
- a wing connected to the core and extending radially outwardly therefrom relative to the axis (C), the wing comprising a radially inward segment and a peripheral segment and extends radially outwardly from the radially inward segment;
- wherein:
- a thickness of the peripheral segment is smaller than a thickness of the radially inward segment to bond to the inner surface of a pipe wall, the thicknesses of the segments being taken in a direction along the axis (C), and
- wherein the core and the wing are integrally formed of a polymer material and have unitary one-piece construction,
- wherein the core comprises a threaded through going bore and the connector is adapted to connect to the irrigation element at the bore,
- wherein the core has an upper portion, a lower portion, the core being adapted to releasably retain an irrigation element adjacent the upper portion,
- wherein a groove is formed in the connector between the core and the wing, and
- wherein the groove is open toward the upper portion, the upper portion of the core passing radially outwardly through the pipe wall.
10 more elements
An irrigation pipe comprising:
- a lumen including a pipe wall;
- and
- at least one irrigation pipe connector comprising:
- a core having an axis (C) and being adapted to connect to an irrigation element;
- and
- a wing connected to the core and extending radially outwardly therefrom relative to the axis (C), the wing comprising a radially inward segment and a peripheral segment that extends radially outwardly from the radially inward segment;
- wherein:
- a thickness of the peripheral segment is smaller than a thickness of the radially inward segment, the thicknesses of the segments being taken in a direction along the axis (C),
- wherein, the wing comprises a leg and a flange, the flange is attached to an inner surface of the pipe wall, the leg being attached at a first end thereof to the flange and at a second end thereof to the core;
- and the peripheral segment is part of the flange,
- wherein the core has an upper portion, a lower portion and an opening extending between the upper and lower portions, the core being adapted to releasably retain an irrigation element adjacent the upper portion,
- wherein a groove is formed in the connector between the core and the leg, and
- wherein the groove is open toward the upper portion, the upper portion of the core passing radially outwardly through the pipe wall.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.