Low flow emitter with exit port closure mechanism for subsurface irrigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9253950-B1
Application number	US-201213644741-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 4, 2012
Priority date	Oct 4, 2012
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

A drip emitter for subsurface irrigation includes a valve chamber defining a hollow interior, an entry port and at least one exit port. A flexible diaphragm is mounted in the hollow interior of the valve chamber for movement in response to pressurized water being supplied to the hollow interior through the entry port. The drip emitter further includes a tortuous path water flow channel that limits the flow of water from the hollow interior of the valve chamber to the at least one exit port. A closure member is moved by the flexible diaphragm to open the at least one exit port when pressurized water enters the hollow interior to allow water to be discharged through the at least one exit port. A spring moves the closure member to close the at least one exit port when the supply of pressurized water is shut OFF.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drip emitter for landscape irrigation, comprising:
a valve chamber defining a hollow interior, an entry port, at least one exit port, and a tortuous path water flow channel that limits the flow of water from the entry port to the at least one exit port;
a flexible diaphragm mounted in the hollow interior of the valve chamber for movement in response to pressurized water being supplied to the hollow interior through the entry port;
a closure member positioned between the tortuous path water flow channel and the at least one exit port, the closure member moved by the flexible diaphragm to open the at least one exit port when pressurized water enters the hollow interior to allow water to be discharged through the at least one exit port; and
a spring that moves the closure member to close the at least one exit port when the supply of pressurized water is shut OFF;
wherein the at least one exit port defines an interface between the hollow interior of the valve chamber and an environment surrounding the drip emitter.

2. The drip emitter of claim 1 wherein the entry port is formed on a first wall of the valve chamber, and a first exit port that is closed by the closure member is formed in a second wall of the valve chamber.

3. The drip emitter of claim 1 and further comprising a first barbed fitting for coupling a first tube segment to admit water from the first tube segment through the entry port and a second barbed fitting for coupling a second tube segment to deliver water from the hollow interior through a second exit port and into the second tube segment.

4. The drip emitter of claim 1 and further comprising a first clamp fitting on the valve chamber for coupling a first tube segment to admit water from the first tube segment through the entry port.

5. The drip emitter of claim 4 and further comprising a second clamp fitting on the valve chamber for coupling a second tube segment to deliver water from the hollow interior through the second exit port and into the second tube segment.

6. The drip emitter of claim 1 wherein the at least one exit port is formed in the lower end of a ground spike portion extending from the valve housing.

7. The drip emitter of claim 1 wherein the closure member is a pin.

8. The drip emitter of claim 6 wherein the lower end of the ground spike portion is formed with a plurality of exit ports.

9. The drip emitter of claim 1 wherein the spring is a coil spring.

10. A drip emitter for irrigation, comprising:
a valve chamber defining a hollow interior, an entry port and at least one exit port;
a flexible diaphragm mounted in the hollow interior of the valve chamber for movement from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to pressurized water being supplied to the hollow interior through the entry port;
a flow control disc mounted in the valve chamber having a tortuous path water flow channel that limits the flow of water from the hollow interior of the valve chamber to the at least one exit port; and
a closure member moved by the flexible diaphragm to open the at least one exit port when pressurized water enters the hollow interior to allow water to be discharged through the at least one exit port, the closure member configured to seal the at least one exit port to inhibit ingress of material through the at least one exit port into the hollow interior of the valve chamber when the flexible diaphragm is in the first configuration.

11. The drip emitter of claim 10 and further comprising a spring that moves the closure member to close the at least one exit port when the supply of pressurized water is shut OFF.

12. The drip emitter of claim 10 wherein the entry port is formed on a side wall of the valve chamber, a first exit port that is closed by the closure member is formed in a bottom wall of the valve chamber, and a second exit port is formed on the side wall of the chamber.

13. The drip emitter of claim 12 and further comprising a first barbed fitting for coupling a first tube segment to admit water from the first tube segment through the entry port and a second barbed fitting for coupling a second tube segment to deliver water from the hollow interior through the second exit port and into the second tube segment.

14. The drip emitter of claim 10 and further comprising a first clamp fitting on the valve chamber for coupling a first tube segment to admit water from the first tube segment through the entry port.

15. The drip emitter of claim 14 wherein the first clamp fitting includes a resilient locking finger with a locking member connected to a free end thereof and having a first hole for receiving the first tube segment therethrough, the first clamp fitting further including a fixed wall with a second hole for receiving the first tube segment therethrough, the first and second holes being aligned by pressing down on the free end of the locking finger, and the locking finger returning to a normal orientation when manually released in which the locking member clamps the first tube segment in place relative to the valve chamber.

16. The drip emitter of claim 15 wherein the entry port is tapered.

17. The drip emitter of claim 15 wherein the entry port is non-tapered.

18. The drip emitter of claim 17 and further comprising at least one O-ring mounted in the entry port.

19. A low flow irrigation device for connection to a segment of drip line tube, comprising:
a valve chamber defining a hollow interior, an entry port and at least one exit port;
a diaphragm mounted in the hollow interior of the valve chamber for movement in response to pressurized water being supplied to the hollow interior through the entry port;
a flow limiter in the valve chamber that limits the flow of water from the hollow interior of the valve chamber to the at least one exit port;
a closure member moved by the diaphragm to open the at least one exit port when pressurized water enters the hollow interior to allow water to be discharged through the at least one exit port;
a spring that moves the closure member to close the at least one exit port when the supply of pressurized water is shut OFF; and
a clamp fitting that allows a segment of tube to be coupled to the entry port, the clamp fitting including a resilient locking finger with a locking member connected to a free end thereof and having a first hole for receiving the tube segment therethrough, the first clamp fitting further including a fixed wall with a second hole for receiving the tube segment therethrough, the first and second holes being aligned by pressing down on the free end of the locking finger, and the locking finger returning to a normal orientation when manually released in which the locking member clamps the tube segment in place relative to the valve chamber.

20. A drip emitter for irrigation, comprising:
a valve chamber defining a hollow interior, an entry port and at least one exit port;
a flexible diaphragm mounted in the hollow interior of the valve chamber for movement from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to pressurized water being supplied to the hollow interior through the entry port;
a flow control disc mounted in the valve chamber having a tortuous path water flow channel that limits the flow of water from the hollow interior of the valve chamber to the at least one exit port;
a first clamp fitting on the valve chamber for coupling a first tube segment to admit water from the first tube segment through the entry port, wherein the first clamp fitting

Assignees

• Hunter Industries

Inventors

• Clark Michael L
• Hunter Daniel E

Classifications

• B05B1/323

  the valve member being actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed (single unit outlet valves actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed B05B11/0062) · 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

• A01G25/023 Primary

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

• B05B12/088

  the sensing element being a flexible member, e.g. membrane, diaphragm, bellows · CPC title

• G05D7/0186

  without moving parts · CPC title