Elastomeric emitter and methods relating to same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10285342-B2
Application number	US-201313964903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2013
Priority date	Aug 12, 2013
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

An irrigation drip emitter, and methods relating to same, are provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. The emitter having at least one moveable member for compensating for fluctuations in supply line fluid pressure. In one form the emitter further includes a root growth inhibiting member for hindering roots from obstructing fluid flow through the emitter. In another form, the emitter includes an inlet protrusion so that fluid entering the emitter comes from a position closer to the central or center portion of the conduit in order to avoid larger obstructions that may be located near the periphery of the conduit. In another form, the emitter includes a carrier for assisting in mounting the emitter into conduit. In another form, more than one of the above features are present.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An irrigation drip emitter for insertion in to a conduit carrying pressurized fluid comprising:
a unitary body made of an elastomer defining an inlet, outlet and a flow channel therebetween connecting the inlet and outlet, wherein the emitter inlet includes a protrusion that extends from an exterior surface and a distal end of the emitter toward a central portion of the conduit so that fluid entering the emitter comes from a position closer to the central portion of the conduit than from a periphery of the conduit in order to avoid particles that may be located near the periphery of the conduit, and wherein the outlet is defined by side walls formed by the unitary body;
the unitary body having a length and width and the flow channel extending over a majority of the length of the unitary body and defining a pressure reduction flow passage and a pressure compensating flow passage having a first cross-sectional area at low fluid pressure and a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area at high fluid pressure to restrict flow through the channel, wherein the pressure reduction flow passage and pressure compensating flow passage are configured in an open face arrangement with each opening from a unitary body side opposite the exterior surface having the emitter inlet protrusion; and
a root growth inhibiting member positioned within the side walls of the outlet to deter roots from obstructing the flow of fluid through the emitter.

2. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1 wherein the outlet has a floor and projections for preventing the floor of the outlet from collapsing in response to high fluid pressure and the root growth inhibiting member comprises a copper insert that corresponds in shape to the outlet so that the copper insert may be disposed within the outlet of the emitter.

3. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 2 wherein the outlet projections comprise a plurality of posts or walls of a first shape and the copper insert defines openings of a second shape that correspond to the first shape so that the copper insert may be disposed within the outlet of the emitter.

4. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 2 wherein the outlet has an interior geometry defined by side walls of the outlet and the projections for preventing the floor of the outlet from collapsing, and the copper insert has an exterior geometry that complements the interior geometry of the outlet so that the copper insert may be disposed within the outlet.

5. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1 wherein the emitter inlet protrusion forms a sleeve having a rounded exterior surface that extends from a longitudinal center of one end of the emitter, with the emitter having an overall length and the sleeve extending from a portion less than a majority of the emitter length.

6. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1 wherein the emitter body has a first side which is positioned against an inner surface of the conduit and a second side opposite the first side that is generally planar and the inlet protrusion is a sleeve extending from the generally planar second side and extends toward the central portion of the conduit beyond adjacent portions of the generally planar second side of the emitter body.

7. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 6 wherein the inlet sleeve includes a filter for blocking obstructions from entering into the flow channel of the emitter.

8. An irrigation drip emitter for insertion in to a conduit carrying pressurized fluid comprising:
a unitary body made of an elastomer defining an inlet, outlet and a flow channel therebetween connecting the inlet and outlet, wherein the emitter inlet includes a protrusion that extends from an exterior surface and a distal end of the emitter toward a central portion of the conduit so that fluid entering the emitter comes from a position closer to the central portion of the conduit than from a periphery of the conduit in order to avoid particles that may be located near the periphery of the conduit;
the unitary body having a length and width and the flow channel extending over a majority of the length of the unitary body and defining a pressure reduction flow passage and a pressure compensating flow passage having a first cross-sectional area at low fluid pressure and a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area at high fluid pressure to restrict flow through the channel; and
a root growth inhibiting member positioned in or proximate the outlet to deter roots from obstructing the flow of fluid through the emitter;
wherein the emitter body has a first side which is positioned against an inner surface of the conduit and a second side opposite the first side that is generally planar and the inlet protrusion is a sleeve extending from the generally planar second side and extends toward the central portion of the conduit beyond adjacent portions of the generally planar second side of the emitter body; and
wherein the inlet sleeve includes a filter for blocking obstructions from entering into the flow channel of the emitter, the filter comprising a plurality of channels located in an exterior surface at a distal end of the sleeve that create a raised surface for blocking larger obstructions on the raised surface while allowing fluid to flow through the channels and sleeve and into the flow channel unobstructed.

9. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1 wherein the emitter body has a first exterior side which is positioned against an inner surface of the conduit and a second exterior side opposite the first side that is positioned near a central portion of the conduit, the pressure compensating flow passage being located on the first exterior side of the emitter body and making up a first portion of the emitter body, and the pressure compensating flow passage further including a recessed portion located on the second exterior side of the emitter and making up a second portion of the emitter body that is larger than the first portion to make the pressure compensating flow passage more responsive to changes in fluid pressure, the recessed portion located on the second exterior side of the emitter having a defined perimeter at all times regardless of fluid pressure.

10. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1 wherein the unitary body defines an open face, flat, in-line emitter and includes a carrier connected to the unitary body for assisting with installation of the unitary body into tubing using emitter insertion tooling, wherein the carrier is made of a polyethylene and is positioned on the unitary body in locations where the unitary body would otherwise come in contact with the insertion tooling in order to minimize contact between the unitary body and the insertion tooling to allow the unitary body to be smoothly guided through the insertion tooling and into the tubing to form a finished emitter and drip line product.

11. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 10 wherein the unitary body has bottom and side surfaces and the carrier covers at least a portion of the bottom and side surfaces of the unitary body and defines an opening aligned with at least a portion of the pressure compensating flow passage to allow for fluid communication between fluid carried in the tubing and the at least a portion of the pressure compensating flow passage to allow the drip emitter to compensate for increases and decreases in fluid pressure within the tube.

12. The irrigation drip emitter of claim 10 wherein the carrier includes a portion disposed in a recess defined by an upper surface of the unitary body in order to assist with connecting the unitary body to an inner surface of the tubing without cross-linking or

Assignees

• Rain Bird Corp

Inventors

• Ensworth Mark M
• Kim Jae Yung
• Edris Mark Richard
• Nazari Joseph
• Shah Samir

Classifications

• A01G2025/006

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A01G25/06

  Watering arrangements making use of perforated pipe-lines located in the soil · CPC title

• A01G25/02

  Watering arrangements located above the soil which make use of perforated pipe-lines or pipe-lines with dispensing fittings, e.g. for drip irrigation · CPC title

• Y10T29/4943

  Plumbing fixture making · CPC title

• A01G25/023 Primary

  Dispensing fittings for drip irrigation, e.g. drippers · CPC title