Pressure compensating emitter having very low activation pressure and large operating range

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10426104-B2
Application number	US-201615245320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2016
Priority date	Nov 20, 2015
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

Pressure-compensating emitter. The emitter includes an inlet connected to a source of pressurized water and an orifice in fluid communication with the inlet and extending into a channel including a raised land surrounding an outlet. A compliant membrane is positioned above the land in the chamber wherein pressurized water will cause the membrane to deform into contact with the land to alter flow through the outlet so as to provide a constant flow rate. Parameters of the emitter are selected so that the emitter has a large operating range and an activation pressure of 0.15 bar or below.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Pressure-compensating emitter comprising:
an inlet connected to a source of pressurized water;
an orifice in fluid communication with the inlet and extending into a channel including a raised land surrounding an outlet; and
a compliant membrane positioned above the land in the chamber wherein the pressurized water will cause the membrane to deform into contact with the land to alter flow through the outlet;
wherein dimensions of the orifice, land diameter, channel dimensions, outlet diameter and membrane characteristics are selected to provide substantially constant flow for varying water pressure with an activation pressure of 0.15 bar or below wherein the compliant membrane sits above the raised land by approximately 0.7 mm.

2. Pressure-compensating emitter comprising:
an inlet connected to a source of pressurized water;
an orifice in fluid communication with the inlet and extending into a channel including a raised land surrounding an outlet; and
a compliant membrane positioned above the land in the chamber wherein the pressurized water will cause the membrane to deform into contact with the land to alter flow through the outlet;
wherein dimensions of the orifice, land diameter, channel dimensions, outlet diameter and membrane characteristics are selected to provide substantially constant flow for varying water pressure with an activation pressure of 0.15 bar or below wherein the orifice has a diameter of approximately 1.25 mm, the outlet has a diameter of approximately 1.28 mm and wherein the compliant membrane sits above the raised land by approximately 0.7 mm.

3. Pressure compensating emitter comprising:
an inlet connected to a source of pressurized water;
an orifice having a diameter of approximately 1.25 mm in fluid connection with the inlet and extending into a channel including a raised land surrounding an outlet having a diameter of approximately 1.28 mm; and
a compliant membrane positioned approximately 0.7 mm above the land in the chamber wherein the pressurized water will cause the membrane to deform into contact with the land to alter flow through the outlet;
whereby the emitter provides substantial constant flow for varying water pressure with an activation pressure of 0.15 bar or below.

4. Pressure-compensating emitter comprising:
an inlet connected to a source of pressurized water;
an orifice in fluid communication with the inlet and extending into a channel including a raised land having an end face surrounding an outlet; and
a compliant membrane positioned above the raised land in the chamber wherein the pressurized water causes the membrane to deform into contact with the end face of the raised land to alter flow through the outlet;
wherein dimensions of the orifice, land diameter, channel dimensions, outlet diameter and membrane characteristics are selected to provide substantially constant flow for varying water pressure with an activation pressure of 0.25 bar or below.

5. The emitter of claim 4 wherein the orifice has a diameter of approximately 1.25 mm.

6. The emitter of claim 4 wherein the outlet has a diameter of approximately 1.20 mm.

7. The emitter of claim 4 wherein the compliant membrane sits above the raised land by approximately 0.3 mm.

8. The emitter of claim 4 wherein the orifice has a diameter of approximately 1.25 mm, the outlet has a diameter of approximately 1.20 mm wherein the compliant membrane sits above the raised land by approximately 0.3 mm and the channel depth within the raised land is approximately 0.15 mm.

9. The emitter of claim 4 wherein the channel within the raised land has a depth of approximately 0.125 mm.

10. The emitter of claim 4 within the orifice has a diameter of approximately 1.25 mm, the outlet has a diameter of approximately 1.20 mm wherein the compliant membrane sits above the raised land by approximately 0.3 mm and the channel depth within the raised land is approximately 0.125 mm.

11. The emitter of claim 4 wherein the activation pressure is 0.15 bar or below.

12. Pressure-compensating emitter comprising:
an inlet connected to a source of pressurized water;
an orifice in fluid communication with the inlet and extending into a channel including a raised land surrounding an outlet; and
a compliant membrane positioned above the land in the chamber wherein pressurized water will cause the membrane to deform into contact with the land to alter flow through the outlet;
wherein dimensions of the orifice, land diameter, channel dimensions, outlet diameter and membrane characteristics are selected to provide substantially constant flow for varying water pressure with an activation pressure of 0.15 bar or below wherein the channel within the raised land has a depth of approximately 0.15 mm.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Shamshery Pulkit
• Winter Amos G

Classifications

• B05B1/3006

  the controlling element being actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed (B05B1/323 takes precedence; single-unit outlet valves actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed B05B11/0062) · CPC title

• G05D16/0647

  using one membrane without spring · CPC title

• A01G25/023 Primary

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

• Y02P60/21

  Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures · CPC title