Pipe Buddy

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.