Farmers need to keep their fields green, whether for
grazing a herd or for growing the grasses for harvesting. During summer months,
the easiest way to get this done is by laying a sprinkler line. The most common
irrigation system uses 40’ lengths of 3” diameter, aluminum pipe.
Each length of pipe has a Rain Bird type sprinkler on one
end and an interconnecting latch on the other end. Each piece of pipe slips in
the open end of the last piece of pipe and latches with a rubber gasket seal. A
pasture uses enough lengths of pipe to ensure sprinkler coverage from fence to
fence. Beginning at one side of a field, the pipe is laid out and watering is
done, typically, for at least an 8 – 12 hour period. At the end of that
sprinkling time, the pipe needs to be moved to the next riser, or pipe line
feed point. Each length of the 3” pipe is carried a fixed distance away from,
and parallel to, the last position. The line is reassembled piece by piece and
the sprinklers are activated with a valve at the riser.
It is common that each length of pipe will still be
filled with water when it is unlatched from the next piece of pipe in the line
being moved. When this occurs, the pipe is raised from the sprinkler end and
the water is drained. The pipe changer then walks to the center of gravity
point on the empty piece of pipe. This point is always closer to the sprinkler
end of the pipe. Lifting the pipe at the balance point makes it easy to carry,
and easier to insert and latch into the last piece.
A common malady with the onset of older age with the
farmer is his/her ability to stoop down to grasp a length of pipe. Normally,
the next piece of pipe is approached at its balance point. The pipe is then
lifted. If it still has water inside, then the pipe is lay back down and the
changer walks to the sprinkler end where the pipe is disconnected and raised to
drain. When drained, the pipe is laid back down and re-lifted at the balance
point.
This process can mean up to three times a single length
of pipe needs to be lifted from the grasses. Being difficult or even painful to
stoop to grab the pipe can make changing the pipe an arduous twice daily chore.
Pipe Buddy to the rescue.
Pipe Buddy is a foot and half long and it allows one to
grasp a piece of pipe and lift it to within reach of the other hand. Once the
pipe is secure in hand, Pipe Buddy is then hung onto a belt attached Paint
Buddy which frees both hands to work with the pipe.
Pipe Buddy has a finger grip beneath the handle. The
grip, when pulled, wraps the two fingers around the piece of pipe. Tension is
maintained on the grip until the pipe is raised and grabbed by the free hand.
When the grip is released the latex tube spring reopens the fingers for their
next lifting. A wire spring of the correct weight could be used in lieu of the
latex tube.
If the pipe is full of water, it will be difficult to
raise using Pipe Buddy. The pipe changer just releases the grip and lifts from
the sprinkler end of the length of pipe. All of the normal stoop and grab steps
have been eliminated with Pipe Buddy.
Pipe Buddy was created to assist a specific farmer’s
need. The same technique can be used to lift things other than 3” irrigation
pipe. The two fingers would need to be changed to suit the object being lifted.
