Clog resistant in-line vortex element irrigation emitter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018343813-A1
Application number	US-201816001432-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 6, 2018
Priority date	Jun 6, 2017
Publication date	Dec 6, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A clog resistant in-line vortex emitter and drip irrigation assembly and method uses a double-sided circuit and a series of vortex chambers of optimized dimensions to create a pressure drop with large dimensions and good clog resistance. The vortex chamber 100 also al lows for a lower exponent than traditional circuits. This gives a pressure regulating property to the no-moving-parts circuit. The vortex emitter allows for some pressure regulation without sacrificing recyclability or requiring moving parts. The vortex circuit of the present disclosure is optimized for an emitter efficiency Ef value wherein Ef=(k/Ackt)*Amin such that k is a unitless head loss coefficient, Ackt is the area of the circuit, and Amin is the minimum cross sectional area of the circuit. A higher k per a given area with larger dimensions allows for a smaller part with a lower chance of clogging.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vortex emitter assembly for an in-line irrigation tube comprising:
a unitary body defining an inlet, an outlet and a multi-lumen flow channel therebetween providing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet; wherein said emitter is configured as a double-sided circuit and a plurality of vortex chambers with lumens aligned in series; wherein the vortex chambers each include an inlet region, a power nozzle, an interaction region and a throat of optimized dimensions to create a pressure drop of fluid flow; and wherein the vortex circuit is optimized for emitter efficiency Ef wherein Ef=(k/Ackt)*Amin such that k is a unitless head loss coefficient, Ackt is the area of the circuit, and Amin is the minimum cross sectional area of the circuit.

2 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 1 , wherein a higher k per a given area with larger dimensions allows for a smaller part with a reduced chance of clogging.

3 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 1 , wherein said series of vortex chambers and lumens create converging vortices and flows with an optimized convergence angle.

4 . A vortex emitter assembly for an in-line irrigation tube comprising:
a vortex circuit having a unitary body including a doubly sided circuit having a plurality of vortex chambers with multi-lumen flow channels therebetween providing fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet of the vortex circuit; each vortex chamber includes an inlet region, a power nozzle, an interaction region and a throat having optimized dimensions to create a pressure drop of fluid flow therein; and wherein said series of vortex chambers and lumens create converging vortices and flows with an optimized convergence angle.

5 . The vortex emitter assembly of claims 4 , wherein the vortex circuit is optimized for emitter efficiency defined by the following equation: Ef=(k/Ackt)*Amin wherein k is a unitless head loss coefficient, Ackt is the area of the circuit, and Amin is the minimum cross sectional area of the circuit.

6 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 4 further comprising a filter component and a pressure compensating component.

7 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 6 wherein said vortex emitter assembly is configured to be positioned along an inner surface of a tube to distribute a desired amount of pressurized fluid from the tube to the environment.

8 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 7 wherein a plurality of vortex emitter assemblies are positioned along said inner surface of said tube.

9 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 5 , wherein a higher k per a given area with larger dimensions allows for a smaller part with a reduced chance of clogging.

10 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 4 , wherein said convergence angle is defined by a perimeter wall of the vortex chamber that extends from an apex of the power nozzle along the inlet region and an opposite wall along the inlet region wherein said convergence angle is between about 45° to about 80°.

11 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 10 , wherein said convergence angle is about 55°.

12 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 4 wherein said power nozzle includes a width Pw and a depth Pd wherein said power nozzle width Pw includes a ratio with said power nozzle depth Pd that is in the range of about 0.75:1 to about 1.25:1.

13 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 12 wherein said power nozzle includes a width Pw and a depth Pd wherein said power nozzle width Pw includes a ratio with said power nozzle depth Pd that is about 1:1.

14 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 4 wherein said interaction region includes a diameter IRD and the power nozzle includes a width Pw wherein said interaction region diameter IRD includes a ratio with said power nozzle width Pd that is in the range of about 2:1 to about 3:1.

15 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 14 wherein said ratio between said interaction region diameter IRD and said power nozzle width Pd is about 2.15:1.

16 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 4 , wherein said interaction region includes a diameter IRD and the throat includes a diameter Td wherein said interaction region diameter IRD includes a ratio with said throat diameter Td that is in the range of about 1.49: 1 to about 3.89:1.

17 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 16 , wherein said ratio between said interaction region diameter IRD and said throat diameter Td is about 2.69:1.

18 . A vortex emitter assembly for an in-line irrigation tube comprising:
a backing plate; a vortex circuit having a unitary body with a plurality of vortex chambers defined along a first surface and a plurality of vortex chambers defined along an opposite second surface wherein each vortex chamber includes an inlet region, a power nozzle, an interaction region and a throat having optimized dimensions to create a pressure drop of fluid flow therein; a support plate wherein the backing plate is attached to the first side of the vortex circuit and the support plate is attached to the opposite second side of said vortex circuit; a filter component in fluid communication with the vortex circuit; and a pressure compensating component in fluid communication with the vortex circuit.

19 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 18 further comprising a convergence angle defined by a perimeter wall of the vortex chamber that extends from an apex of the power nozzle along the inlet region and an opposite wall along the inlet region wherein said convergence angle is between about 45° to about 80°.

20 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 18 wherein said power nozzle includes a width Pw and a depth Pd wherein said power nozzle width Pw includes a ratio with said power nozzle depth Pd that is in the range of about 0.75:1 to about 1.25:1.

21 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 18 wherein said interaction region includes a diameter IRD and the power nozzle includes a width Pw wherein said interaction region diameter IRD includes a ratio with said power nozzle width Pd that is in the range of about 2:1 to about 3:1.

22 . The vortex emitter assembly of claim 18 , wherein said interaction region includes a diameter IRD and the throat includes a diameter Td wherein said interaction region diameter IRD includes a ratio with said throat diameter Td that is in the range of about 1.49: 1 to about 3.89:1.

Assignees

• Dlhbowles Inc

Inventors

• Hasday Benjamin D
• Russell Gregory A
• Gopalan Shridhar
• South Christopher F

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