Irrigation method and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of distributing a liquid around plant, comprising:
- selecting and forming spring conduit means having an open end and a closed semipermanently shaped, into a semicircular spring loop defining a variable throat having a width less than the diameter of said loop,mounting a plurality of sprinkler heads having a fan shaped spray pattern in the upper wall thereof, said upper wall being defined as the upper surface of the conduit when the loop lies in a substantially horizontal plane;
hooking said loop around the trunk of a plant, connecting said open end of said conduit means to a supply of liquid under pressure;
arranging said spray patterns to extend solely away from said plant; and
arranging said spray patterns to partially overlap for thereby forming an annular spray pattern about said plant.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for distributing irrigation water and the like around agricultural plants. The apparatus includes a semi-permanent, semi-looped elastic distributing conduit having a closed end and an open end, with a plurality of spray nozzles in the upper surface of the conduit for distributing liquid outward from the plant in fan-like overlapping patterns. The apparatus becomes a semi-permanent installation, and the method includes the placing of such a semi-looped distributor close in about a plant and arranging the spray patterns to have a substantially fan-like configuration extending outward from the plant and overlapping.
40 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of distributing a liquid around plant, comprising:
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selecting and forming spring conduit means having an open end and a closed semipermanently shaped, into a semicircular spring loop defining a variable throat having a width less than the diameter of said loop, mounting a plurality of sprinkler heads having a fan shaped spray pattern in the upper wall thereof, said upper wall being defined as the upper surface of the conduit when the loop lies in a substantially horizontal plane; hooking said loop around the trunk of a plant, connecting said open end of said conduit means to a supply of liquid under pressure; arranging said spray patterns to extend solely away from said plant; and arranging said spray patterns to partially overlap for thereby forming an annular spray pattern about said plant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A liquid distribution apparatus for distributing a liquid about an agricultural plant comprising:
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elongated elastic conduit means constructed of a spring-like material having a closed end and an open end for connection to a liquid supply line and semipermanently shaped for defining a semicircular spring loop conduit means biased into said loop shape for extending in a substantially horizontal plane for hooking about and at least partially encircling the trunk of a plant, said loop defining a variable throat width having a width less than the diameter of said loop and, means defining a plurality of sprinkler heads having a fan shaped, overlapping spray pattern for directing liquid upwards and solely away from the center of said loop means when said loop means is mounted in a substantially horizontal plane for defining an annular spray pattern for extending around a plant encircled by said loop. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification