Drip irrigation hose and method for its manufacture
DCFirst Claim
1. A drip irrigation hose comprising:
- an elongated plastic hose that provides a large water supply passage;
a small flow regulating passage extending along the length of the hose;
a plurality of longitudinally spaced inlet ports to the flow regulating passage from the water supply passage;
a plurality of longitudinally spaced outlet ports from the flow regulating passage to the exterior of the hose, the outlet ports being displaced from the respective inlet ports to provide a substantial path length from each inlet port through the flow regulating passage to a respective outlet port,wherein each port of one type comprises a single longitudinal, knife blade formed slit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drip irrigation hose of the continuous emitter type in which the outlets from the regulating passage each comprise a single longitudinal slit. By controlling the length of the slits and the flexibility of the film, water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized without clogging when the hose is depressurized. The slits are sufficiently long and the film is sufficiently flexible so the water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized. The slits are sufficiently short and the film is sufficiently rigid so the outlets close completely when the hose is depressurized. An outlet forming wheel has a knife blade on its periphery. A backing wheel engages the outlet forming wheel to establish a first nip therebetween. The backing wheel has on its periphery a circumferential slot into which the knife blade fits at the first nip. A rib forming wheel has around its periphery impressions that define a desired track pattern for the ribs. The outlet forming wheel and the rib forming wheel are mounted on a common shaft to operate in synchronism. A continuous strip of plastic film is directed in a path that reverses direction four times to accommodate these wheels.
48 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A drip irrigation hose comprising:
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an elongated plastic hose that provides a large water supply passage; a small flow regulating passage extending along the length of the hose; a plurality of longitudinally spaced inlet ports to the flow regulating passage from the water supply passage; a plurality of longitudinally spaced outlet ports from the flow regulating passage to the exterior of the hose, the outlet ports being displaced from the respective inlet ports to provide a substantial path length from each inlet port through the flow regulating passage to a respective outlet port, wherein each port of one type comprises a single longitudinal, knife blade formed slit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification