1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to tools for manipulating pipe, and in particular, to hand-held tools for engaging various portions of irrigation pipe to manipulate the pipe without undue physical strain on the operator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are many types of irrigation systems known in the prior art. One common system with which the present invention is particularly well suited for use includes a series of pipe joints connected together across an end of a field. The pipe joints each typically have a female bell connector at one end and a male connector at the other end. Several (e.g., 6 to 18) adjustable gate valves are typically spaced along the length of each pipe joint. The pipe joints are typically made of aluminum or plastic and range in size from 20 to 36 feet in length and 6 to 12 inches in diameter, with a 30 foot length and 8 to 10 inch diameter being the most common. The pipe joints typically weigh approximately 50 to 150 pounds, depending on the size and material of the pipe and the amount of sediment accumulated within the pipe.
Irrigating is often the most labor intensive task on an agricultural farm in areas having inadequate rainfall. The irrigation system described above using pipe joints requires the pipe joints to be carried to the field to be irrigated at the beginning of each irrigating season, laid across the end of the field, connected together by inserting the male ends into the female ends of adjacent pipes, and adjusting the flow of water through the adjustable gate valves each time water is applied to the crop. It is often necessary to rotate the pipe after it has been connected together across the end of the field in order to direct the flow of water out of the gate valves to an appropriate angle away from the pipe. In addition, at the end of the season, the pipe usually must be disconnected, picked up, and carried out of the field.
Two of the most physically demanding tasks with the irrigation pipe system described above are turning the pipe to adjust the angle of the water flow after the pipe joints are connected together (especially if the pipe is filled with water), and disconnecting the pipe joints at the end of the irrigating season. The difficulty of these tasks is increased after the pipe settles during the irrigation season (typically one to three months), after sediment accumulates within the pipe, or as vegetative growth is allowed to grow under and around the pipe. A rubber gasket is typically used to seal the connection joints against leakage, thus increasing the force required to rotate and disconnect the pipe joints.
One known prior art system for rotating irrigation pipe has a pair of clamping jaws and a scissor-type handle for engaging the pipe. This system requires the use of two hands to operate the handle to apply a clamping force to the pipe. Thus, in situations where the operator's hands are full of other tools, such as shovels and gate changer tools, the known turning tool is unwieldy and not very useful. This known tool is also relatively complex, making it more difficult and expensive to manufacture.
The common method of disconnecting the pipe joints at the end of the irrigation season is to grip the bell end of the pipe with the operator's hands (preferably wearing gloves to avoid cuts and abrasions) and twisting and pulling until the adjacent pipe connection comes apart. This method is, of course, very strenuous on the irrigator, often resulting in lower back pain, sore hands, and physical exhaustion. In addition, the irrigator is limited as to the amount of force he can apply without his hands slipping from the pipe.
Thus, there is a need for devices to reduce the physical exertion required for these tasks without the disadvantages of the prior art described above.