Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Conduit or nozzle attached irrigation-type decelerator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-06-26
Douglas, Lisa Ann (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Conduit or nozzle attached irrigation-type decelerator
C239S547000, C239S533100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250571
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to drip irrigation emitters particularly, but not exclusively, of the regulating labyrinth type described in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,400,973 and 5,609,303, as well as in Eckstein et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,838 and Mehoudar U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,462.
Drip irrigation emitters of the foregoing type generally include a body member having an inlet for receiving pressurized water, an outlet, and between the inlet and the outlet, a connecting passageway including a plurality of baffles spaced in the direction of the water flow from the inlet to the outlet, and extending transversely to that direction, with the baffles being alternatingly joined at one end to the body member and spaced at the opposite end from the body member to define a labyrinth flow path. A deformable membrane overlies the baffles with one face of the membrane engageable with one side of the baffles, and the opposite face of the membrane being exposed to the pressure of the water at the inlet, such that the membrane is deformable by the inlet pressure towards and away from the baffles to control the labyrinth flow path in response to the inlet pressure.
OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide drip irrigation emitters particularly, but not exclusively of the foregoing type having a number of advantages, as will be described more particularly below.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drip irrigation emitter of the regulating labyrinth type described above, characterized in that the baffles are formed with notches in the sides thereof facing the membrane such that the membrane is deformed by an increase in the inlet pressure first into engagement with the sides of the baffles facing the membrane, and then into the notches to regulate the flow to the outlet.
As will be described more particularly below, drip irrigation emitters constructed in accordance with the foregoing features effect the regulation in two stages according to the inlet pressure; in the first stage, the membrane seats on the baffle sides facing the membrane; and in the second stage, the membrane enters the notches to reduce the effective cross-sectional area thereof, and thereby to restrict the water flow therethrough, in accordance with the inlet pressure.
According to further features in this aspect of the invention, the sides of the baffles facing the membrane are of concave configuration; also, the notches are preferably of increasing depth from one end of the labyrinth flow path to the opposite end. Such a construction permits a continuous and gradual decrease to be produced in cross-sectional areas of the bypasses defined by the notches in response to an increase in the inlet pressure.
According to one described preferred embodiment, the emitter is of the “integral tube” type, wherein the body member is in the form of an elongated, relatively flat strip to be bonded to the inner face of a water supply tube having a discharge opening through its wall communicating with the outlet of the body member.
According to further features in one described preferred embodiment, the emitter further includes a cover which is constituted of two half-sections each joined by an integral hinge to a lateral side of the body member, permitting the cover sections to be folded over and to be secured to the body member with the membrane inbetween the cover sections and the body member.
Another embodiment is described wherein the drip irrigation emitter is of the “button” type, in which the body member, labyrinth flow path, and membrane are all of a circular configuration.
According to further features in a further described preferred embodiment, one face of the cover faces the interior of the water supply tube, and the opposite face of the cover faces and overlies the opposite face of the membrane; the cover being formed with a plurality of pins projecting from the opposite face thereof receivable within holes formed in the body member.
In one described embodiment, the one face of the cover (that facing the interior of the water supply tube) is contactable by a feeder slide when fed thereby to the inner surface of the water supply tube, and configured to produce a contact surface with the feeder slide which is perpendicular to the transverse axis of the water supply tube to thereby facilitate the fixing of the cover and the body member to the inner face of the water supply tube as the body member is fed thereto by the feeder slide.
According to still further features in that described preferred embodiment, the one face of the cover is formed with a longitudinally-extending rib eccentric to the longitudinal axis of the cover, which rib facilitates the proper orientation of the cover and body member during the fixing of the cover and body member to the interior of the water supply tube. In addition, the opposite ends of the body member are formed with eccentric ribs to be aligned with the eccentric rib of the cover, and thereby to facilitate orienting the cover with respect to the body member when secured thereto.
According to still further features in one described preferred embodiment, the opposite face of the cover forms with the membrane a valve which automatically opens the inlet in response to a pressure of between 0 and 2 meters of water within the water supply tube, and which substantially blocks flow in the reverse direction in response to a negative pressure within the water supply tube. Preferably, the opening pressure is 0 meters of water. Such a construction better assures more complete drainage of the water supply tube when the water supply is cut-off, thereby minimizing the accumulation of water within the water supply tube favorable for the growth of organisms that could clogg the irrigation system.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5279462 (1994-01-01), Mehoudar
patent: 5400973 (1995-03-01), Cohen
patent: 5615838 (1997-04-01), Eckstein et al.
Barish Benjamin J.
Douglas Lisa Ann
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