IL104482A - Valve assembly particularly useful in a hydraulic riser - Google Patents

Description

i¾n n H S] itii'ai enn>tyi> omoi>> "?ν ηη-ηπ VALVE ASSEMBLY PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN A HYDRAULIC RISER VALVE ASSEMBLY PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN A HYDRAULIC RISER The present invention relates to a valve assembly, and particularly to a valve assembly useful as a hydraulic riser, for example in a water irrigation system.

Water irrigation systems commonly include vertical risers mounted in the ground at different locations in the system to extend vertically a short distance over the ground. Such vertical risers are used for connecting the water supply pipe, which may be buried in the ground, to a plurality of water distribution pipes extending horizontally over the ground and leading to the water sprinklers or other irrigation devices. The vertical risers include a valve for controlling the water from the supply pipe to the distribution pipes connected to the riser.

In the conventional construction, the upper end of the riser, containing the valve member, is generally connected to each of the horizontally-extending distribution pipes by a horizontally-extending nipple, a first right-angle elbow to direct the water vertically downwardly, a vertically-extending stub shaft, and another right-angle elbow connected to the opposite end of the vertical stub shaft to direct the water to the horizontally-extending distribution pipe. Such a construction thus includes a large number of parts for each water distribution pipe, thereby increasing the original installations costs, as well as the maintenance and replacement costs. Moreover, such an arrangement can generally supply a maximum of four distribution pipes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve assembly having advantage in the above respects, and particularly useful as a vertical riser in a water irrigation system of the above type.

According to the present invention, there is provided a valve assembly for use in a water irrigation system, comprising: a vertical riser pipe mounted in the ground to extend vertically a short distance over the ground and connected to a water supply pipe buried in the ground; a housing having one end coaxial with, and enclosing, one end of said, riser pipe to define an annular passageway between the housing and said riser pipe, the opposite end of said riser pipe being embedded in the ground and connected to said water supply pipe; a cover plate closing said one end of the housing; a valve member at said one end of the riser pipe and movable to a closed position blocking water flow from said one end of the riser pipe into said annular passageway, or to an open position permitting water flow from said one end of the riser pipe into said annular passageway; and outlet means at the opposite end of said housing for discharging the water from said annular passageway .

As will be described more particularly below, such a valve assembly, particularly when used in a vertical riser, greatly simplifies the connections to the water distribution pipes supplied by the vertical riser. In addition, it provides a high degree of flexibility as to the number and arrangement of water distribution pipes that may be supplied by the vertical riser.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein : Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating one form of valve assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is horizontal sectional view along line II—II of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of another valve assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view along line IV—IV of Fig. 3.

The valve assembly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is included in a water irrigation system for connecting a main water supply pipe 2 buried in the ground to a plurality of water distribution pipes (not shown) extending along the ground to the water sprinklers or other water irrigation devices in the system. Such a system includes a vertical riser pipe 6 extending vertically from the water supply pipe 2 a short distance above the ground, and a valve member 8 at the upper end of the riser pipe 6 for controlling the flow of the water from the water supply pipe 2 to the water distribution pipes.

The illustrated assembly further includes a cylindrical housing 10 of larger diameter than the vertical riser pipe 6. Housing 10 is coaxial with and encloses the end of the vertical riser pipe 6 extending above the ground to define an annular passageway 12 between the housing and the pipe. The upper end of housing 10 is closed by a cover plate 14 having an outer flange 14a secured by a plurality of bolts 16 to an outer flange 10a formed at the upper end of the housing 10. The upper end of housing 10 adjacent to its flange 10a is reduced in diameter as shown at 10b. Four radially-extending ribs 18 secured between the upper end of the housing and the vertical riser pipe 6 firmly maintain the spaced relationship defining the annular passageway 12 between the housing 10 and the vertical riser pipe 6. The lower end of housing 10 is closed by a closure plate 10c.

Valve member 8 is in the form of a diaphragm. It includes an outer section 8a clamped between the annular flange 14a of the cover plate 14, and the annular flange 10a at the upper end of housing 10. Diaphragam 8 further includes an inner section 8b centrally of the diaphragm and seatable against the end of the vertical riser pipe 6 in the closed position of the diaphragm. In its open position, diaphragm section 8b is movable towards the cover plate 14 away from the end of the vertical riser pipe 6, to establish communication between the interior of the riser pipe and the annular passageway 12 between the pipe and the outer housing 10.

Cover plate 14 defines a control chamber 20 with the diaphragm 8 for controlling the movement of the diaphragm. Thus, housing 10 includes a port 22 on the upstream side of diaphragm 8 passing through one of the ribs 18 and connected by a tube 24 to a pilot valve 26. The pilot valve 26 has a first port 26a connected to tube 24, a second port 26b connected to the atmosphere, and a third port 26c connected to port 14b formed in the cover plate 14. Pilot valve 26 further includes an operator member 28 which is movable either to a first position connecting port 26c to port 26a as shown in Fig. 1, or to a second position connecting port 26c to port 26b leading to the atmosphere. A light spring 30 within the control chamber 20 urges the diaphragm 8 to its valve-closed position as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The lower end of housing 10 is formed with a plurality of horizontally-extending nipples, as shown at 32, one for each of the horizontal water distribution pipes to be supplied with water from the vertical riser pipe 6. In the example illustrated in Fig. 1, the vertical riser pipe 6 supplies four horizontal water distribution pipes, and therefore there are four of such horizontally-extending nipples 32. These are located just above the ground level, so that the water distribution pipes secured thereto may rest on the ground.

The operation of the valve assembly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 will be apparent from the above description. Thus, in the normal condition of the valve assembly, operator 28 of the pilot valve 26 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, connecting port 26a to port 26c.

Thus, the inlet pressure is applied via line 24 and the pilot valve 26 to the interior of control chamber 20, thereby maintaining the diaphragm 8 in the valve-closed position, firmly seated against the end of the vertical riser pipe 6. In this valve-closed position, there is no communication between the interior of the vertical riser pipe 6 and the annular passageway 12 between that pipe and the outer housing 10, so that the water distribution pipes connected to the nipples 32 are not supplied with pressurized water.

When it is desired to supply the water distribution pipes with pressurized water, operator 28 of the pilot valve 26 is moved to connect port 26c to port 26b, thereby venting the interior of control chamber 20 to the atmosphere. As soon as this occurs, the inlet pressure of the water within the vertical riser pipe 6 moves diaphragm 8 towards cover plate 14, thereby opening the valve and establishing communication between the interior of the vertical riser pipe 6 and the annular passageway 12 between this pipe and housing 10. The water then flows through the annular passageway 12 to the horizontal nipples 32 located at the lower end of housing 10, and to the water distribution pipes connected to those nipples.

While the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 includes four nipples 32 for supplying four water distribution pipes, it will be appreciated that the assembly could be used for supplying a smaller or larger number of water distribution pipes, by providing the appropriate number and arrangement of outlet nipples 32 at the lower end of housing 10. Thus, the housing could be provided with one circular array of nipples at different angular positions according to the number of water distribution pipes to be supplied; alternatively, it could be provided with two or more circular arrays of nipples, one circular array above the other, if a much larger number of water distribution pipes are to be supplied.

It will thus be seen that the illustrated assembly not only simplifies the construction and maintenance of the connections between the vertical riser pipe and the water distribution pipe supplied therefrom, but also provides a high degree of flexibility in the number and arrangement of water distribution pipes that may be supplied by the vertical riser pipe.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a further variation that may be included. In this variation, the outer cylindrical housing 10 is not closed at its lower end by closure plate 10c, but rather is left open and terminates slightly above the ground level to provide an annular discharge opening, designated 40, for discharging the water from the annular passageway 12 directly to the ground. The lower open end of housing 10 is also provided with four ribs 42, similar to ribs 18 at the upper end of the housing to maintain the annular passageway 12 between the housing and the vertical riser pipe 6.

The remainder of the valve assembly illustrated in . Figs. 3 and 4 is constructed, and operates, in substantially the same manner as in Figs. 1 and 2, and therefore the same parts are correspondingly numbered to facilitate understanding. The construction of Figs. 3 and 4 is particularly useful in flood irrigation systems, wherein the water from the vertical riser pipe is directly discharged to the ground.

While the invention has been described with respect to two preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that these are set forth merely for purposes of example.

The invention could be used with other types of valves, i.e., other than the diaphragm valve illustrated in the drawings. Many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention will be apparent.

Claims (7)

104482/3 - 9 - WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A valve assembly for use in a water irrigation system, comprising: a vertical riser pipe mounted in the ground to extend vertically a short distance over the ground and connected to a water supply pipe buried in the ground; a housing having one end coaxial with, and enclosing, one end of said riser pipe to define an annular passageway between the housing and said riser pipe, the opposite end of said riser pipe being embedded in the ground and connected to said water supply pipe; a cover plate closing said one end of the housing; a valve member at said one end of the riser pipe and movable to a closed position blocking water flow from said one end of the riser pipe into said annular passageway, or to an open position permitting water flow from said one end of the riser pipe into said annular passageway; and outlet means at the opposite end .of said housing for discharging the water from said annular passageway.

2. The valve assembly according to Claim 1 , further including a plurality of radially-extending ribs spacing said one end of the housing from said one end of the riser pipe and defining said annular passageway.

3. The valve assembly according to either of Claims 1 or 2, wherein said outlet means includes at least one horizontally-extending nipple at said opposite end of the housing for connection to a horizontally-extending distribution pipe. 104482/3 - 10 -

4. The valve assembly according to any one of Claims 1-3, wherein said outlet means includes a plurality of horizontally-extending nipples at different angular positions at said opposite end of the housing, and a plurality of horizontally-extending distribution pipes connected to said nipples .

5. The valve assembly according to any one of Claims 1-3, wherein said outlet means comprises an annular discharge opening between said riser pipe and said opposite end of the housing.

6. The valve assembly according to any one of Claims 1-5, wherein said valve member comprises a diaphragm having an outer section clamped between said cover plate and said one end of the housing, and an inner section seatable against said one end of the riser pipe in the valve closed position of the diaphragm, and movable away from said one end of the riser pipe in the valve open position of the diaphragm.

7. The valve assembly according to Claim 6, wherein said cover plate and said diaphragm define a control chamber controlled by a pilot valve effective to connect said control chamber either to the inlet pressure in order to close the valve, or to the atmosphere in order to open the valve. For the Applicant by: By: Benjamin J. Barish Advocate, Patent Attorney P.O. Box 2273 Rehovot 76122