AU2011100770B4 - Omnidirectionally flexible sprinkler riser - Google Patents

Abstract

OMNIDIRECTIONALLY FLEXIBLE SPRINKLER RISER. An omni directionally flexible sprinkler riser is described as an intermediate, tubular part, fixed between the water supply pipe and a sprinkler body, acting as a coupling, joining sprinkler body with water pipe system. The invention is a single piece, tubular device comprising of rigid ends and a flexible, concertina like, middle section. The concertina shape constitutes the entire thickness of the middle section's wall. The middle, concertina like section is flexible to the degree that it allows the sprinkler to stay in an upright position during normal operation but also makes it possible for the sprinkler to either deflect sideways or compress downward, when excessive, external, lateral and/or vertical forces are applied. After removal of such a force, the concertina like section recovers from deformation, bringing the attached sprinkler to its original position. The two ends are of rigid construction, both having threads along portion of their length in order to accommodate attaching them to a water supply pipe on one end and a sprinkler body on the other end. The material composition of this present art is UTV stabilized, thermoplastic polyester and/or elastomer material, which possesses physical properties of being able to be moulded in a single unit, comprising of rigid parts, like engineering resins and flexible parts with elasticity of rubber. That in turn enables this sprinkler riser to be connected in a rigid form to a sprinkler and water pipe system respectively and to have flexible, concertina like middle section, allowing it to be bendable sideways and compressible vertically at the same time and thus preventing accidental damage to the sprinkler or the water pipe system or the sprinkler riser itself if undue, excessive lateral or vertical force is applied to the sprinkler or sprinkler riser. Page 1

Description

DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: [0001 ]This invention is related to risers for sprinklers and particularly to such risers, which possess the ability to deflect a sprinkler body when under application of an excessive force and return the sprinkler to its original position after removal of that force. [000211t is a common problem with lawn sprinklers and garden risers to sustain damage either through lateral or, as it is the case with lawn sprinklers, vertical forces. Lawn sprinklers are particularly prone to damage by wheels of cars driving onto a verge of lawns. [0003]This invention allows for lateral deflection as well as vertical compression of the riser in the direction of the external, excessive force, applied to it and subsequent return to its original, vertical, upright position after removal of such a force. [0004] The invention utilizes thermoplastic polyester and/or elastomer material. This material possesses excellent shock absorption, flexing and elastic recovery from deformation like bending or compression. [0005]This invention is unique in, that it not only provides function of lateral deflection but it is the only riser allowing for compression under application of a vertical force at the same time. [0006]The form of this invention is accomplished in a single unit construction introducing simplicity of design and economy of production. The riser can be manufactured using conventional thermoplastic processes. [0007]Being the intermediate part positioned between the water supply pipe and the sprinkler body it is intended to be a universal coupling not limited by any particular size or type of fitting connection of the water supply pipe or sprinkler body. [0008] Prior art utilises designs which deal with aspect of lateral flexibility and not the issue of vertical compression. That approach is sufficient with regard to above ground sprinklers but not so with lawn sprinklers where excessive force is exerted in vertical direction either by wheels of cars driving over them or persons accidently stepping on them. [0009]One such example of prior art is invention US4314717 (Bjurman) published 9 February 1982. Although visually similar to the present art, the prior art lacks the ability to compress. That lack of compression ability becomes obvious on realisation that the flexible part of that prior art is essentially a tube with ribbing moulded on the outside part of that tube only. That would aid in bending but would make compression of that section practically impossible. That fact is confirmed by Fig.4 of drawings of prior art, where the function of compression can only be simulated by horizontal positioning of the device in order to give vertical compressibility to the attached sprinkler. In the claims of the said prior art only bending ability is claimed and not compressibility. Page 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. [00 10]A preferred form of the present art is presented in the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the simplicity of the invention's design. [0011 ]Figure 1 represents the riser in its single mould form. [00 12]Both ends (Figl.1) have threaded sections to the required diameter. Between the threaded sections and the middle, concertina like section, there is a section moulded in a hexagonal ring shape (Fig1.2) serving as a platform for a spanner to help attach the riser to a receptacle without exerting undue pressure on the concertina like section. [0013]The middle part comprises of concertina like section (Figl.3), which is the most important part of the design, allowing for lateral deflection as well as vertical compression of the riser, through its controlled degree of flexibility. [0014]Figure 2 shows the riser in a cutaway form for internal detail clarity. The main three parts of the design marked on the drawing are: threaded ends (Fig2.1), hexagonal ring being platform for a spanner (Fig2.2) and the bellows of the concertina like section (Fig2.3) where the bellows of the concertina shape constitute the entire thickness of its wall. Page 3 EMBODIMENT: [0015]A preferred form of the present invention being the omnidirectional sprinkler riser is illustrated in the attached drawings. [0016] The said sprinkler riser is utilized to elevate a sprinkler body above the connection with water supply pipe. This application can be used below or above ground dependent on the type of sprinkler used. [001 7]Both ends of the sprinkler riser comprise of threaded parts (Fig1.1), which are designed to connect to a water supply pipe and a sprinkler body respectively. These sections are of rigid construction. [001 8]The parts adjoining the threaded sections are hexagonal rings shaped, moulded sections (Fig1.2), which facilitate the use of a spanner to help fasten the sprinkler riser to the respective receptacles, without putting undue stress on the bellows of the concertina like, middle section. [0019]Finally, the middle section of the riser is formed by the bellows of the concertina like section (Fig1.3). This is the most important part of the riser's design. [0020]The middle, concertina like section has sufficient longitudinal rigidity to retain its upright position under the longitudinal reaction force exerted by jet of water escaping the sprinkler nozzle. However, lateral forces, applied in excess of normal, reaction force exerted by the sprinkler nozzle or any vertical, excessive force will cause a deflection of the bellows of that concertina like section along its length. The inherent tension of the concertina like section will automatically return the riser to the intended, upright position, when the excessive force is removed. [0021]Another aspect of the invention's design is the use of UV stabilised, thermoplastic polyester and/or elastomer material. This material makes it possible to combine many parts of prior art into one, single unit. In this single unit there is a middle, concertina like section, displaying flexibility of rubber, while other sections possess the rigidity of an engineering plastic. [0022]It is understood that various changes may be made to the above description of a preferred embodiment. For example, different diameters of connectors and bellows, different lengths and thicknesses offering varied strength and resilience characteristics as well as varied number of bellows in the concertina like section, may be readily utilized with the present art. [0023]Therefore it is intended, that only the claims be taken as definitions and restrictions upon the scope of this invention. Page 4

Claims (5)

1. A sprinkler riser being a coupling, joining sprinkler body to a water pipe system, comprising: a single, tubular component with both ends threaded, two hexagonal rings sections and a middle section, shaped like a concertina wherein the concertina like part is flexible to such a degree, that it allows controlled bending and/or compression under application of a force excessive to normal, operational force.

2. The sprinkler riser of Claim wherein the middle section has a concertina like form throughout the entire thickness of its wall.

3. The sprinkler riser of Claim 1 wherein the sprinkler riser's middle, concertina like section, is flexible to a controlled degree of lateral bending and vertical compression.

4. The sprinkler riser of Claim 1 wherein the rigid sections located between the rigid threaded ends and the flexible, resilient, middle, concertina like section, are formed in hexagonal ring shapes.

5. The sprinkler riser of Claim 1 wherein the sprinkler riser is manufactured from, UV stabilised, thermoplastic polyester and/or elastomer material in the desired composition. Page 5