Riser for subsurface drainage pipe

Abstract

A pull up riser with at least one drainage port near its upper end is provided for attachment to a subsurface drain system to speed drainage from low areas during times of high water.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a subsurface drain system comprising a buried perforated drain pipe sloped to carry water away from a pick up area to a desired destination, wherein water infiltration from the surface of the earth to the pipe is inadequate under all conditions to prevent a pool of water from forming on the surface of the earth above the buried drain pipe, the improvement comprising 
 a riser tube mounted to the drain pipe so as to be extendable from a retracted position in which an upper end of the riser tube is beneath the surface of the earth to an extended position in which the upper end of the riser tube is above the surface of the earth, said riser tube when in the extended position forming a flow path from the pool of water to the pipe to provide rapid drainage of water from the pool.    
     
     
         2 . A drain system as in  claim 1  wherein the upper end of the riser tube is buried under a layer of earth when in the retracted position.  
     
     
         3 . A drain system as in  claim 2  wherein the upper end of the riser tube is buried under sand.  
     
     
         4 . A drain system as in  claim 3  wherein subsurface drain pipe underlies a golf course sand bunker.  
     
     
         5 . A drain system as in  claim 1  wherein the riser tube telescopes vertically into the drain pipe.  
     
     
         6 . A drain system as in  claim 5  wherein the riser tube slides up and down in a “T” fitting mounted on the drain pipe.  
     
     
         7 . A drain system as in  claim 5  wherein the upper end of the riser tube is fitted with a removable end plug.  
     
     
         8 . A drain system as in  claim 7  wherein an upper side of the removable end plug is fitted with a lift handle facing away from the drain pipe.  
     
     
         9 . A drain system as in  claim 7  wherein the removable end plug is associated with a metal to facilitate its detection when in a buried state.  
     
     
         10 . A drain system as in  claim 7  wherein a plurality of lateral openings near the upper end of the riser tube are provided to form a portion of the flow path from the pool of water to the pipe to provide rapid drainage from the pool.  
     
     
         11 . A drain system as in  claim 7  wherein the removable end plug is removable to form a portion of the flow path from the pool of water to the pipe to provide rapid drainage from the pool.  
     
     
         12 . A method to provide means for more rapid draining of water from pool of water standing in a low area and having a subsurface drain pipe situated underneath, on an as needed basis, said method comprising 
 providing the drain pipe with an extendable riser tube, said riser tube having an at least one opening near its upper end to form a flow path from a surface of the sand bunker to the subsurface drain pipe when the riser tube is in an extended position.    
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12  wherein the lower area is a golf course sand bunker and the riser tube is extendable from a retracted position in which the upper end of the riser tube is beneath the surface of the sand bunker so that the riser tube can be concealed by sand in the bunker.  
     
     
         14 . A method for draining water from a sand bunker, said method comprising 
 locating an upper end of a riser tube buried beneath an upper surface of the sand in the sand bunker, said riser tube being in flow communication with a subsurface drain pipe running beneath the sand bunker, and    pulling up the riser tube until an upper end of the riser tube is above the surface of the sand and exposing at least one drain hole leading into the riser tube to water standing in the bunker.