Coupling for connecting irrigator to water supply line - comprises support moving along line with curved pipe element movable w.r.t. it to fit over end of pipe end mounted in ground

摘要

The coupling connects a spray head to one of a series of branches leading from a fixed water supply line stretching the length of a field. The system includes a chassis which moves along the line and a movable length of pipe (24) which is to be coupled to the vertical branch. A valve actuator is mounted within the lower end of the pipe coupling to prevent the flow of water until the two elements are sealed together. The pipe is moved vertically w.r.t. the chassis by an hydraulic piston-and-cylinder unit. The branch and the end of the pipe have abutting peripheral flanges (82,134) which have an interposed seal ring and are held together by C-shaped jaws (74) which keep the flanges in compression to maintain a fluid-tight seal.