Union Coupling With Removable Screen

Abstract

A union coupling having a removable screen is disclosed. The union coupling includes a pipe joint, a fitting that receives the screen, and a collar which clamps the fitting to the pipe joint. In one form, the fitting has an inner surface that defines a passage through the fitting and a pocket formed in the inner surface. The screen has a transverse extension that is received at least in part in the pocket with engagement of the transverse extension and pocket restricting passage of the screen past a predetermined position in the passage. A union coupling having a fitting comprising a fitting body with an outward flange and a shoulder element with an outward flange is also provided. The shoulder element is connected to the fitting body to captivate a collar between the outward flanges of the fitting so that the collar does not become separated from the fitting body. A method of assembling a union coupling is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An irrigation system subassembly comprising:
 an irrigation system component having an upstream port and a downstream port;   an union coupling connected to the upstream port of the irrigation system component, the upstream union coupling comprising an upstream fitting having a pair of opposed ends with one end configured to connect to an upstream pipe joint and a first wall extending between the opposed ends of the upstream fitting, a first passage defined by the first wall and extending between the opposed ends of the upstream fitting, a first outward flange extending from the first wall intermediate the opposed ends of the upstream fitting, an upstream collar having an upstream collar flange portion that defines a first opening, the first opening being sized to pass over the first wall at the one end of the upstream fitting, and a second outward flange being connected to the one end of the upstream fitting, the second outward flange being sized to restrict the upstream collar flange portion from passing beyond the second outward flange, the first and second outward flanges captivating the upstream collar on the upstream fitting; and   an union coupling connected to the downstream port of the irrigation system component, the downstream union coupling comprising a downstream fitting having opposed ends with one end configured to connect to the downstream pipe joint and a second wall extending between the opposed ends of the downstream fitting, a second passage defined by the second wall and extending between the opposed ends of the downstream fitting, a third outward flange extending from the second wall intermediate the opposed ends of the downstream fitting, a downstream collar having a downstream collar flange portion that defines a second opening, the second opening being sized to pass over the second wall at the one end of the downstream fitting, and a fourth outward flange being connected to the one end of the downstream fitting, the fourth outward flange being sized to restrict the downstream collar flange portion from passing beyond the fourth outward flange, the third and fourth outward flanges captivating the downstream collar on the downstream fitting.   
     
     
         2 . The irrigation system subassembly of  claim 1  further comprising a screen disposed at least in part in the first passage of the upstream union coupling. 
     
     
         3 . The irrigation system subassembly of  claim 1  wherein the irrigation system component is selected from the group consisting of a valve, a generator, and a filter. 
     
     
         4 . The irrigation system subassembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the second outward flange and the fourth outward flange is connected to the respective fitting via a spin weld. 
     
     
         5 . The irrigation system subassembly of  claim 1  wherein the upstream union coupling includes the upstream pipe joint and the downstream union coupling includes the downstream pipe joint. 
     
     
         6 . A method of assembling a union coupling, the method comprising:
 aligning an opening of a collar with an end of a fitting body portion;   passing the opening of the collar over the end of the body portion;   connecting a fitting shoulder portion to the end of the body portion, which positions an inward flange portion of the collar in axial overlapping relation with an outward flange portion of the body portion and an outward flange portion of the shoulder portion;   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising inserting a downstream portion of a screen into a passage of the body portion defined by a wall of the body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising seating a rim of the screen against a stop extending inwardly from the wall of the body portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising aligning a plurality of transverse extensions of a screen with recesses in the shoulder portion and inserting the plurality of transverse extensions of the screen into the recesses of the shoulder portion. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising mating threads on the collar with threads on a pipe joint and rotating the collar to draw the shoulder portion and the pipe joint into abutting relation.