Emitter and tube for drip irrigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10912263-B2
Application number	US-201716335272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2017
Priority date	Sep 21, 2016
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

An emitter includes a water intake part, a pressure-reducing flow path part, a first flow-rate adjusting part, a second flow-rate adjusting part, and a discharge part. The first flow-rate adjusting part includes a first valve seat, a first communication hole, a first diaphragm part, and a valve body. The valve body is disposed between the first diaphragm part and an opening of the first communication hole. The valve body moves toward the first communication hole as the first diaphragm part approaches the first valve seat. The shape of the valve body is such that, when the traveling distance of the valve body is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the gap decreases as the valve body moves and such that, when the traveling distance of the valve body exceeds the predetermined value, the gap increases as the valve body moves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An emitter configured to be joined to an inner wall surface of a tube for carrying irrigation liquid at a position corresponding to a discharging port of the tube for communicating between an inside and an outside of the tube, and configured to discharge the irrigation liquid in the tube at a constant rate out of the tube from the discharging port, the emitter being made of a resin, the emitter comprising:
an intake part configured to communicate with a space in the tube when the emitter is joined to the tube;
a pressure reducing channel part communicating with the intake part, and configured to form a pressure reducing channel for carrying the irrigation liquid while reducing a pressure of the irrigation liquid;
a first flow rate adjusting part communicating with the pressure reducing channel part, and configured to adjust a flow rate of the irrigation liquid depending on a pressure of the irrigation liquid in the tube;
a second flow rate adjusting part communicating with the pressure reducing channel part and the first flow rate adjusting part, and configured to adjust the flow rate of the irrigation liquid depending on the pressure of the irrigation liquid in the tube; and
a discharging part communicating with the second flow rate adjusting part, and configured to face the discharging port when the emitter is joined to the tube,
wherein the first flow rate adjusting part includes:
a first valve seat,
a first communicating hole that opens at the first valve seat and that communicates with the second flow rate adjusting part,
a first diaphragm part having flexibility and disposed away from the first valve seat, the first diaphragm part being configured to bend toward the first valve seat when the pressure of the irrigation liquid in the tube is exerted on the first diaphragm part, and
a valve element disposed between the first diaphragm part and an opening portion of the first communicating hole such that there is a gap between the valve element and the opening portion of the first communicating hole,

wherein the valve element is moved toward the first communicating hole as the first diaphragm part bends toward the first valve seat,
wherein the first flow rate adjusting part further includes a projection over an entire circumference of the opening portion of the first communicating hole, the projection protruding from an inner surface of the first communicating hole in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction in which the valve element is moved, and
wherein the valve element is of such a shape that, when a moving distance of the valve element is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the gap becomes narrower as the valve element is moved, and when the moving distance of the valve element is greater than the predetermined value, the gap becomes wider as the valve element is moved.

2. The emitter according to claim 1 , wherein the first flow rate adjusting part further includes a plurality of guide parts disposed on a valve-element side to surround the opening portion of the first communicating hole and to be spaced from one another, the plurality of guide parts being configured to direct the valve element into the first communicating hole.

3. The emitter according to claim 1 , wherein the first diaphragm part and the valve element are a one-piece part.

4. The emitter according to claim 1 , wherein the second flow rate adjusting part includes:
a second valve seat,
a second communicating hole that opens at the second valve seat and that communicates with the discharging part, and
a second diaphragm part having flexibility and disposed away from the second valve seat, the second diaphragm part being configured to bend toward the second valve seat when the pressure of the irrigation liquid in the tube is exerted on the second diaphragm part.

5. A drip irrigation tube, comprising:
a tube including a discharging port for discharging irrigation liquid; and
the emitter according to claim 1 that is joined to the inner wall surface of the tube at a position corresponding to the discharging port.

6. An emitter configured to be joined to an inner wall surface of a tube for carrying irrigation liquid at a position corresponding to a discharging port of the tube for communicating between an inside and an outside of the tube, and configured to discharge the irrigation liquid in the tube at a constant rate out of the tube from the discharging port, the emitter being made of a resin, the emitter comprising:
an intake part configured to communicate with a space in the tube when the emitter is joined to the tube;
a pressure reducing channel part communicating with the intake part, and configured to form a pressure reducing channel for carrying the irrigation liquid while reducing a pressure of the irrigation liquid;
a first flow rate adjusting part communicating with the pressure reducing channel part, and configured to adjust a flow rate of the irrigation liquid depending on a pressure of the irrigation liquid in the tube;
a second flow rate adjusting part communicating with the pressure reducing channel part and the first flow rate adjusting part, and configured to adjust the flow rate of the irrigation liquid depending on the pressure of the irrigation liquid in the tube; and
a discharging part communicating with the second flow rate adjusting part, and configured to face the discharging port when the emitter is joined to the tube,
wherein the first flow rate adjusting part includes:
a first valve seat,
a first communicating hole that opens at the first valve seat and that communicates with the second flow rate adjusting part,
a first diaphragm part having flexibility and disposed away from the first valve seat, the first diaphragm part being configured to bend toward the first valve seat when the pressure of the irrigation liquid in the tube is exerted on the first diaphragm part, and
a valve element disposed between the first diaphragm part and an opening portion of the first communicating hole such that there is a gap between the valve element and the opening portion of the first communicating hole,

wherein the second flow rate adjusting part includes:
a second valve seat,
a second communicating hole that opens at the second valve seat and that communicates with the discharging part, and
a second diaphragm part having flexibility and disposed away from the second valve seat, the second diaphragm part being configured to bend toward the second valve seat when the pressure of the irrigation liquid in the tube is exerted on the second diaphragm part,

wherein the valve element is moved toward the first communicating hole as the first diaphragm part bends toward the first valve seat, and
wherein the valve element is of such a shape that, when a moving distance of the valve element is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the gap becomes narrower as the valve element is moved, and when the moving distance of the valve element is greater than the predetermined value, the gap becomes wider as the valve element is moved.

7. The emitter according to claim 6 , wherein the first flow rate adjusting part further includes a plurality of guide parts disposed on a valve-element side to surround the opening portion of the first communicating hole and to be spaced from one another, the plurality of guide parts being configured to direct the valve element into the first communicating hole.

8. The emitter according to claim 6 , wherein the first diaphragm part and the valve element are a one-piece part.

9. A drip irrigation tube, comprising:
a tube including a discharging port for discharging irrigation liquid; and
the emitter according to claim 6 that is joined to the inner wall surfa

Assignees

• Enplas Corp

Inventors

• Noguchi Koji

Classifications

• A01G25/023 Primary

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

• Y02A40/22

  Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion · CPC title

• 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

• B05B1/202

  comprising inserted outlet elements · CPC title

• A01G25/16

  Control of watering · CPC title