U.S. patent application number 10/973878 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-27 for flexible inlet riser.
Invention is credited to Kenneth L. Nelson.
Application Number | 20060088382 10/973878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36206343 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060088382 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nelson; Kenneth L. |
April 27, 2006 |
Flexible inlet riser
Abstract
A vertical inlet riser for use with an underground drainage pipe
system, includes a main body having a generally hollow cylindrical
shape. A plurality of apertures are located in the main body and
arranged to permit ground water to be received within the main
body. A connection member is located on a lower end of the main
body and adapted to mate with the underground drainage pipe system.
A resilient flexible material maintains the main body in a
generally vertical position when a majority of the main body is
extending above the ground, bends the main body upon an incident of
force on the main body, and returns the main body to the generally
vertical position when the incident of force is removed.
Inventors: |
Nelson; Kenneth L.;
(Bedford, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ZARLEY LAW FIRM P.L.C.
CAPITAL SQUARE
400 LOCUST, SUITE 200
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2350
US
|
Family ID: |
36206343 |
Appl. No.: |
10/973878 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/041 |
International
Class: |
E02B 11/00 20060101
E02B011/00 |
Claims
1. An underground drainage pipe system, comprising: an inlet riser
having a main body made of a flexible material adapted to bend when
force is applied and return the main body to a generally vertical
orientation when force is removed; a plurality of apertures located
in the main body arranged to permit ground water to be received
within the main body; a connection member located on a lower end of
the main body; and a drain pipe secured to the connection
member.
2. (canceled)
3. The drainage pipe system of claim 1, wherein the flexible
material is a polymer based material.
4. The drainage pipe system of claim 1, wherein a support member is
disposed within the main body with sufficient resilient structural
integrity to return the main body to the generally vertical
position when the incident of force is removed.
5. The drainage pipe system of claim 4, wherein the support member
has a coiled spring structure.
6. The drainage pipe system of claim 1, wherein the lower end of
the main body includes an outer lip and an inner lip adapted to
receive a portion of the underground drainage pipe.
7. The drainage pipe system of claim 6, wherein the connection
member includes a retention band encircling the outer lip and inner
lip, as well as a plurality of fasteners received through the
retention band, the fasteners adapted to secure the retention band,
outer lip, and inner lip to the portion of the underground drainage
pipe.
8. The drainage system of claim 1, wherein the connection member
includes a coupler piece having a lower portion adapted to mate
with the portion of the underground drainage pipe and an upper
portion adapted to mate with the main body.
9. The drainage pipe system of claim 8, wherein the connection
member includes a retention band encircling an outer lip and inner
lip, as well as a plurality of fasteners received through the
retention band, the fasteners adapted to secure the retention band,
outer lip, and inner lip to the upper portion of the coupler
piece.
10. A method of draining surface water for use with an underground
drainage pipe system, comprising: providing a vertical inlet riser
having a generally hollow cylindrical shape; providing a plurality
of apertures located in the vertical inlet riser arranged to permit
ground water to be received within the vertical inlet riser;
providing a connection member located on a lower end of the
vertical inlet riser and adapted to mate with a vertical drain
pipe; maintaining vertical inlet riser in a generally vertical
position when a majority of the vertical inlet riser is extending
above the ground, bending the main body upon an incident of force
on the vertical inlet riser, and returning the vertical inlet riser
to the generally vertical position when the incident of force is
removed; and draining surface water by intaking surface water with
the vertical inlet riser and outletting the surface water into the
vertical drain pipe.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the vertical inlet riser is
constructed from a flexible material with sufficient resilient
structural integrity to return the vertical inlet riser to the
generally vertical position when the incident of force is
removed.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the flexible material is a
polymer based material.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein vertical inlet riser is
constructed from a flexible material and a support member is placed
in contact with the vertical inlet riser with sufficient resilient
structural integrity to return the vertical inlet riser to the
generally vertical position when the incident of force is
removed.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the support member has a coiled
spring structure located within the vertical inlet riser.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the lower end of the vertical
inlet riser includes an outer lip and an inner lip adapted to
receive a portion of the vertical drain pipe therebetween.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the connection member includes
a retention band encircling the outer lip and inner lip, as well as
a plurality of fasteners received through the retention band, the
fasteners adapted to secure the retention band, outer lip, and
inner lip to the portion of the vertical drain pipe.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein the connection member includes
a coupler piece having a lower portion adapted to mate with the
portion of the vertical drain pipe and an upper portion adapted to
mate with the vertical inlet riser.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the connection member includes
a retention band encircling an outer lip and inner lip, as well as
a plurality of fasteners received through the retention band, the
fasteners adapted to secure the retention band, outer lip, and
inner lip to the upper portion of the coupler piece.
19. The drainage pipe system of claim 1 wherein the main body
includes a closed top.
20. The drainage pipe system of claim 1 wherein the main body has a
generally cylindrical shape.
21. The drainage pipe system of claim 1 wherein the main body
extends above ground level.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of drainage pipe
systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a flexible
vertical inlet riser, for use in a terraced environment such as is
commonly found in an agricultural field.
[0002] Terraces, such as those commonly found in an agricultural
field, reduce the effects of erosion by controlling and managing
surface run-off. A terrace includes a generally horizontal bench,
typically the tillable portion in an agricultural field, and a
supporting generally vertical embankment adjacent the bench.
Terraces are constructed across the slope of a field to break up
long slopes into a series of short areas, with each area collecting
excess water from an area above it. The collected water is then
typically removed from the field safely via an underground drainage
pipe system.
[0003] These underground drainage pipe systems include a vertical
drain pipe for inletting collected water into the underground
drainage pipe system, and a horizontal drain pipe for dispersing
the collected water into the ground. A vertical inlet riser that
extends above the ground level is typically connected to the
vertical drain pipe to intake surface water from the terrace and
outlet this water into the underground drainage pipe system. These
vertical inlet risers are typically constructed of metal (as shown
in U.S. Pat. No. 902,104) or of PVC piping (i.e. polyvinyl chloride
plastic piping).
[0004] Unfortunately, existing terrace and drainage pipe system
designs are based on the dimensions and maneuverability of
antiquated farm machinery. For instance, an existing terrace and
drainage pipe system may be designed to have a space between the
vertical embankment of a terrace and the adjacent vertical inlet
riser sufficient to allow the passage of a twelve row planter,
which was the state of the art at the time the terrace and drainage
pipe system was made. However, current planters are capable of
planting up to twenty four rows, and are accordingly much wider
than the prior twelve row models. An attempt to pass the
twenty-four row planter between the vertical embankment of a
terrace and the adjacent vertical inlet riser results in the
twenty-four row planter impacting the vertical inlet riser. This
impact will often break the PVC type vertical inlet riser, and
displace the metal type vertical inlet riser sufficiently to
dislodge the metal type vertical inlet riser from the horizontal
drain pipe so that water is no longer efficiently communicated to
the drainage pipe system.
[0005] It is a primary objective of this invention to provide a
vertical inlet riser for use with an underground drainage pipe
system, having a resilient flexible means that accommodates impact
to the vertical inlet riser without compromising the performance of
the drainage pipe system.
[0006] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in
the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A vertical inlet riser, for use with an underground drainage
pipe system, includes a main body having a generally hollow
cylindrical shape. A plurality of apertures are located in the main
body and arranged to permit ground water to be received within the
main body. A connection member is located on a lower end of the
main body and adapted to mate with the underground drainage pipe
system. A resilient flexible means maintains the main body in a
generally vertical position when a majority of the main body is
extending above the ground, bends the main body upon an incident of
force on the main body, and returns the main body to the generally
vertical position when the incident of force is removed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of the vertical inlet riser of the
present invention in a terraced environment;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an additional side view of the vertical inlet
riser of the present invention in a terraced environment;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional top view the vertical
inlet riser of the present invention taken along line 3-3 of FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connection member of the
vertical inlet riser of the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional side view the vertical
inlet riser of the present invention taken along line 5-5 of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] A drainage pipe system 10 having a vertical inlet riser 12
is shown in a terraced environment 14 in FIG. 1. The drainage pipe
system 10 is located primarily underground with the vertical inlet
riser 12 extending above ground level in a generally vertical
direction.
[0014] The terraced environment 14 includes a supporting embankment
16 extending in a generally vertical direction and a bench 18. The
bench 18 is typically the tillable portion in an agricultural field
and is positioned adjacent the embankment 16 to extend in a
generally horizontal direction from the embankment 16. The
embankment 16 and bench 18 form a pair of structures that are
repeated across the slope of a field to break up long slopes into a
series of short areas, with each area collecting excess water in a
channel 20 formed between each embankment 16 and bench 18 pairs.
The collected water in a channel 20 is removed from the terraced
environment 14 via the adjacent vertical inlet riser 12 and
underground drainage pipe system 10.
[0015] A space A separates the embankment 16 from an adjacent
vertical inlet riser 12. This space A is utilized to pass equipment
(not shown) such as planters between the embankment 16 and the
adjacent vertical inlet riser 12. Where the space A is insufficient
to accommodate the passing equipment, the vertical inlet riser 12
is impacted by the equipment. As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical
inlet riser 12 of the present invention bends to accommodate the
impact by the equipment and returns to its generally vertical
orientation when the incident of force is removed.
[0016] While other forms of drainage pipe systems 10 may be used in
conjunction with the vertical inlet riser 12 of the present
invention, one exemplary drainage pipe system 10 is shown in FIG.
2. One or more generally horizontal drain pipes 22 extend laterally
from a central pipe junction 24. The horizontal drain pipes 22
disperse the collected water from the surface into the ground. A
generally vertical drain pipe 26 extends from the central pipe
junction 24 in an upward direction. The vertical drain pipe 26
inlets the collected water from the surface into the underground
drainage pipe system 10 for dispersion into the horizontal drain
pipes 22.
[0017] A connection member 28 is located on a lower end of the
vertical inlet riser 12. The connection member 28 is adapted to
mate the vertical inlet riser 12 with the underground drainage pipe
system 10 via the vertical drain pipe 26. Once the connection
member 28 mates the vertical inlet riser 12 with the underground
drainage pipe system 10, the vertical inlet riser 12 extends above
the ground level to intake surface water from the terraced
environment 14 and outlets this water into the underground drainage
pipe system 10 via the vertical drain pipe 26.
[0018] With reference to FIG. 4, the connection member 28 includes
a coupler piece 30. The coupler piece 30 has an upper portion 34
adapted to mate with the vertical inlet riser 12 and a lower
portion 36 adapted to mate with the vertical drain pipe 26. The
lower portion 36 of the connection member 28 is received within the
vertical drain pipe 26, and is retained therein with glue or any
other suitable fastening material and/or device. Likewise, the
upper portion 34 is received within the vertical inlet riser 12,
and is retained therein with glue or any other suitable fastening
material and/or device.
[0019] With reference to FIG. 3, one embodiment for affixing the
upper portion 34 of coupler piece 30 to the vertical inlet riser 12
is shown. A retention band 38 formed of metal or another suitable
material is positioned around the vertical inlet riser 12. An outer
lip 42 and an inner lip 44 extend from the lower end of the
vertical inlet riser 12. The outer lip 42 and inner lip 44 receive
a portion of the upper portion 34 of coupler piece 30 therebetween.
The retention band 38 encircles the outer lip 42, and receives a
plurality of fasteners 40 therethrough that secure the retention
band 38, outer lip 42, and inner lip 44 to the upper portion 34 of
coupler piece 30.
[0020] Other connection member 28 arrangements are contemplated by
the present invention. For instance, the coupler piece 30 could be
eliminated, so that the fasteners 40 secures the retention band 38,
outer lip 42, and inner lip 44 directly to the vertical drain pipe
26. Likewise the outer lip 42 or inner lip 44 could be eliminated.
Additionally, the connection member 28 may be comprised of other
fastening materials and/or devices used to mate the vertical inlet
riser 12 with the underground drainage pipe system 10 via the
vertical drain pipe 26.
[0021] With reference to FIG. 2, a main body 46 having a generally
hollow cylindrical shape forms the main portion of the vertical
inlet riser 12 of the present invention. A close top 48 is formed
at an upper end of the main body 46 to prevent large objects from
entering the main body 46, and reducing the drainage ability of the
vertical inlet riser 12. A plurality of apertures 50 are located in
the main body 46, with the apertures 50 arranged to permit ground
water to be received within the main body 46. As shown, the
vertical inlet riser 12 of the present invention bends to
accommodate the impact by the equipment and returns to its
generally vertical orientation when the incident of force is
removed. The vertical inlet riser 12 includes resilient flexible
means for maintaining the main body 46 in a generally vertical
position when a majority of the main body is extending above the
ground, bending the main body upon an incident of force on the main
body, and returning the main body to the generally vertical
position when the incident of force is removed. In one embodiment,
the resilient flexible means comprises the main body 46 itself
being constructed from a flexible material with sufficient
resilient structural integrity to return the main body 46 to the
generally vertical position when the incident of force is removed.
In this embodiment, the flexible material of the main body 46 can
include a polymer based material.
[0022] With reference to FIG. 5, in another embodiment, the
resilient flexible means comprises the main body 46 being
constructed from a flexible material and a separate support member
52 in contact with the main body 46. As shown, the support member
52 has a coiled spring structure located within the hollow portion
of the main body 46. The support member 52 has sufficient resilient
structural integrity to return the main body 46 to the generally
vertical position when the incident of force is removed.
[0023] Thus, the present invention provides a vertical inlet riser,
for use with an underground drainage pipe system, having a
resilient flexible means that accommodates impact to the vertical
inlet riser without compromising the performance of the drainage
pipe system.
[0024] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
other various modifications could be made to the device without
departing from the spirit in scope of this invention. All such
modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and
are intended to be covered thereby.
* * * * *