Low Flow Irrigation Emitter

• US 20100200676A1
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Shah, Samir, Allen, Kirk A., Feith, Raymond P., Peterson, Gerald E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/542
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/023 Dispensing fittings for drip irrigation, e.g. drippers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7793 With opening bias [e.g., pressure regulator]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7796 Senses inlet pressure

Abstract

An irrigation emitter is provided for delivering irrigation water from a water supply conduit, such as an irrigation supply tube, pipe, or other water supply apparatus, at a low volume or drip-like flow rate. The emitter operates generally through the use of a reduced size orifice and a relatively long tortuous flow channel that cause a pressure reduction between the water supply conduit and an emitter outlet. The emitter includes an inlet for tapping a portion of the water flow from the water supply conduit and, when the water pressure is above a predetermined minimum level, directing the flow to and through the flow channel for subsequent discharge to a desired location. The emitter also may regulate to accommodate for changes in supply pressure. The emitter also may include multiple emitter outlets.

Claims

1. An irrigation apparatus comprising:

a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet;

an elongated path in the housing between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet;

a flow valve having a valve member having a first position preventing flow from the at least one inlet to the elongated path when incoming flow pressure is below a predetermined level and a second position permitting flow from the at least one inlet to the elongated path when the incoming flow pressure is above a predetermined level;

a flow regulator upstream of the flow valve and the elongated path to regulate the flow to the elongated path when the incoming flow pressure is above the predetermined level and being dependent on the incoming flow pressure; and

wherein the flow regulator and the elongated path cause a pressure drop between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet.

2. The irrigation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valve member is biased towards the first position.

3. The irrigation apparatus of claim 2 further comprises a common poppet for the flow regulator and the flow valve.

4. The irrigation apparatus of claim 3 wherein the valve member is carried by the poppet.

5. The irrigation apparatus of claim 4 wherein the flow valve includes a valve seat and valve member includes an annular rib that engages the valve seat when in the first position.

6. The irrigation apparatus of claim 3 wherein the flow regulator includes an upstream terminal end of the poppet configured for regulating flow.

7. The irrigation apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a diaphragm connected to the poppet and wherein incoming flow pressure above a predetermined level acting on the diaphragm moves the valve member from the first position to the second position.

8. The irrigation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the housing includes a guide for reciprocational movement of the poppet.

9. The irrigation apparatus of claim 8 wherein the bias for the valve member comprises a spring and the diaphragm acting on the poppet.

10. The irrigation apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a seat plate defining a port about which the valve seat is disposed on one side and a regulator interface is disposed on the other side.

11. The irrigation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one inlet includes internal threading for attachment to a fluid supply line.

12. The irrigation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one inlet includes a barb for attachment to a fluid supply line.

13. The irrigation apparatus of claim 12 wherein the at least one inlet includes a protective member generally disposed about the barb.

14. The irrigation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one outlet includes an outlet valve having a first position preventing flow from the at least one outlet and a second position permitting flow from the at least one outlet.

15. The irrigation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a plurality of outlets.

16. The irrigation apparatus of claim 15 wherein each outlet includes an outlet valve having a first position preventing flow from the outlet and a second position permitting flow from the outlet.

17. The irrigation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated path includes a plurality of orifices disposed therealong for causing a pressure drop.

18. The irrigation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated path is formed in part by a plurality of layers.

19. The irrigation apparatus of claim 18 wherein the plurality of layers includes at least one pattern layer having recesses on both sides and at least one gasket layer having a gasket orifice.

20. The irrigation apparatus of claim 19 wherein the plurality of layers defines a tortuous portion of the elongated path wherein the recesses of the at least one pattern layer are connected in series by at least one recess orifice so that the flow passes from one side of the at least one pattern layer to the other side of the at least one pattern layer.

21. The irrigation apparatus of claim 20 wherein the plurality of layers includes at least two pattern layers and at least one gasket layer interposed therebetween.

22. The irrigation apparatus of claim 20 wherein the plurality of layers includes at least one bypass layer having a bypass orifice and at least one gasket layer having a gasket orifice.

23. The irrigation apparatus of claim 22 wherein the bypass orifice is larger than the gasket orifice.

24. The irrigation apparatus of claim 20 wherein the elongated path is formed at least in part by the tortuous portion and formed at least in part by a non-tortuous portion.

25. The irrigation apparatus of claim 23 wherein the plurality of layers is stacked in the following order:

(a) one of the at least one pattern layers;

(b) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(c) one of the at least one bypass layers;

(d) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(e) one of the at least one bypass layers;

(f) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(g) one of the at least one bypass layers; and

(h) one of the at least one gasket layers wherein the at least one pattern layer (a) is upstream of the at least one gasket layer (h).

26. The irrigation apparatus of claim 23 wherein the plurality of layers is stacked in the following order:

(a) one of the at least one pattern layers;

(b) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(c) one of the at least one pattern layers;

(d) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(e) one of the at least one pattern layers;

(f) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(g) one of the at least one bypass layers; and

(h) one of the at least one gasket layers wherein the at least one pattern layer (a) is upstream of the at least one gasket layer (h).

27. A method of manufacturing an irrigation apparatus comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a housing having an open end;

(b) inserting a pressure reducing flow member defining an elongated flow path into the housing through the open end;

(c) inserting a flow valve having a valve member;

(d) inserting a flow regulator upstream of the flow valve; and

(e) attaching a cover with an inlet attachment at the open end of the housing.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of providing a housing with at least one outlet and inserting an outlet valve into the at least one outlet.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of providing a housing with a plurality of outlets and inserting an outlet valve into each of the plurality of outlets.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of inserting a pressure reducing flow member includes inserting a plurality of layers defining the elongated flow path.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the step of inserting a pressure reducing flow member includes inserting in an alternating fashion at least one pattern layer having recesses on both sides and at least one gasket layer having at least one orifice.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of inserting a pressure reducing flow member further includes the step of inserting at least one bypass layer having at least one bypass orifice.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of inserting the plurality of layers includes inserting the plurality of layers stacked together in the following order:

(i) one of the at least one pattern layers;

(ii) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(iii) one of the at least one bypass layers;

(iv) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(v) one of the at least one bypass layers;

(vi) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(vii) one of the at least one bypass layers; and

(viii) one of the at least one gasket layers wherein the at least one pattern layer (i) is upstream of the at least one gasket layer (vii).

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of inserting the plurality of layers includes inserting the plurality of layers stacked together in the following order:

(i) one of the at least one pattern layers;

(ii) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(iii) one of the at least one pattern layers;

(iv) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(v) one of the at least one pattern layers;

(vi) one of the at least one gasket layers;

(vii) one of the at least one bypass layers; and

(viii) one of the at least one gasket layers wherein the at least one pattern layer (i) is upstream of the at least one gasket layer (vii).

35. The method of claim 27 wherein the steps are performed in the following order:

first, performing step (a);

second, performing step (b);

third, performing step (c);

fourth, performing step (d); and

fifth, performing step (e).

36. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of inserting a flow regulator upstream of the flow valve includes inserting a flow regulator having a regulator head integrally formed with a poppet.

37. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of attaching a cover with an inlet attachment at the open end of the housing includes receiving the regulator head and the poppet from one side of the cover such that at least a portion of the regulator head passes through at least a portion of the cover.