Low flow irrigation emitter

• US 8,439,282 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Allen, Kirk A., Feith, Raymond P., Peterson, Gerald E., Shah, Samir
• Primary Examiner(s): Reis, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/367,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20100200676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 239/443, 239/456, 239/457, 239/538, 239/541, 239/542, 239/562, 239/569, 239/580, 239/581.1, 239/570, 137/505, 137/505.13, 137/505.25, 137/505.41, 137/508
• US Class Current: 239/570
• 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, at least one outlet and a seat wall defining a port intermediate the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet, the seat wall having an upstream facing side and a downstream facing side, a regulator seat at the port on the upstream facing side and a valve seat at the port on the downstream facing side;

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 engaging the valve seat for 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 being spaced from the valve seat for 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 and capable of being spaced varying distances from the regulator seat 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;

a common poppet for the flow regulator and the flow valve;

a layer disposed in the housing downstream of the flow valve between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet, the layer having a stop portion configured to restrict movement of the poppet and at least one flow passage that forms at least a part of the elongated path; 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 wherein the valve member is carried by the poppet.

4. The irrigation apparatus of claim 3 wherein the valve member includes an annular rib that engages the valve seat when in the first position.

5. The irrigation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the poppet extends through the port and the flow regulator includes an upstream terminal end of the poppet configured for regulating flow.

6. The irrigation apparatus of claim 5 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.

7. The irrigation apparatus of claim 6 wherein the housing includes a guide for reciprocational movement of the poppet.

8. The irrigation apparatus of claim 7 wherein a spring biases the valve member towards the first position and the diaphragm acts on the poppet.

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

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

11. The irrigation apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one inlet includes a protective member generally disposed about the barb.

12. 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.

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

14. The irrigation apparatus of claim 13 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.

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

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

17. The irrigation apparatus of claim 16 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.

18. The irrigation apparatus of claim 17 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.

19. The irrigation apparatus of claim 18 wherein the plurality of layers includes at least two pattern layers and at least one gasket layer interposed therebetween.

20. The irrigation apparatus of claim 18 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.

21. The irrigation apparatus of claim 20 wherein the bypass orifice is larger than the gasket orifice.

22. The irrigation apparatus of claim 18 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.

23. The irrigation apparatus of claim 21 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).

40. The irrigation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cover attached to the housing and having an inlet attachment component, a collar component and a one-way attachment between the inlet and collar components to enable attachment of the cover to the housing and resist unintentional detachment of the cover from the housing.

24. 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;

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

wherein the elongated path is formed in part by a plurality of layers;

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;

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;

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;

wherein the bypass orifice is larger than the gasket orifice; and

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).

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

providing a housing having an open end;

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

providing a flow regulator;

providing a wall defining a port at the housing and a poppet for the flow regulator;

advancing a radially enlarged portion of a regulator end of the poppet through the port from a downstream side of the wall defining the port to an upstream side of the wall and positioning a tapered portion of the regulator end of the poppet within the port such that the flow regulator cooperates with the upstream side of the wall at the port; and

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

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising inserting an outlet valve into at least one outlet of the housing.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising inserting an outlet valve into each of a plurality of outlets of the housing.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of inserting a pressure reducing flow member includes inserting a plurality of layers defining the elongated flow path.

29. The method of claim 28 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.

30. The method of claim 29 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.

31. The method of claim 30 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 (viii).

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the steps are performed in the following order:

first, providing the housing having the open end;

second, inserting the pressure reducing flow member defining the elongated flow path into the housing through the open end;

third, providing the flow regulator;

fourth, providing the wall defining the port at the housing and the poppet for the flow regulator; and

fifth, advancing the radially enlarged portion of the regulator end of the poppet through the port from the downstream side of the wall defining the port to the upstream side of the wall.

41. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of attaching a cover with an inlet attachment at the open end of the housing includes attaching the cover with an inlet component and a collar component and a one-way attachment between the inlet and collar components to enable attachment of the cover and resist unintentional detachment of the cover.

42. The method of claim 25 further comprising providing a flow valve having a valve member.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein providing the flow regulator includes providing the flow regulator upstream of the flow valve;

and

advancing the radially enlarged portion of the regulator end of the poppet through the port includes positioning the tapered portion of the regulator end of the poppet within the port such that the valve member cooperates with a downstream side of the wall at the port.

32. 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 further comprising the steps of;

inserting a plurality of layers defining the elongated flow path;

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;

inserting at least one bypass layer having at least one bypass orifice; and

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 (viii);

(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.

34. 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 regulator upstream of the elongated path to regulate flow to the elongated path and being dependent on incoming flow pressure;

a layer disposed in the housing between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet, the layer having a flow passage that forms at least a part of the elongated path;

a poppet for the flow regulator that is movable relative to the layer with variation of the incoming flow pressure;

a flexible diaphragm being connected to the poppet to move the poppet based on the incoming flow pressure, the flexible diaphragm disposed between the at least one inlet and the elongated path, the flexible diaphragm having at least one flow hole that permits flow to the elongated path; 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.

35. The irrigation apparatus of claim 34 wherein the housing includes a guide for reciprocational movement of the poppet.

44. The irrigation apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a flow valve having a valve member having a first position preventing flow from the at least one inlet to the elongated path when the 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.

36. An irrigation apparatus comprising:

a housing having at least one inlet and a plurality of outlets, and each of the plurality of outlets including an outlet valve having a first position preventing flow therethrough and a second position permitting flow therethrough;

a plurality of elongated paths in the housing between the at least one inlet and the plurality of outlets with each of the plurality of elongated paths being associated with a different one of the plurality of outlets;

a flow regulator upstream of the elongated paths to regulate flow to the elongated paths and being dependent on incoming flow pressure;

a flexible diaphragm that is connected to the flow regulator and is configured to move the flow regulator based on the incoming flow pressure, the flexible diaphragm disposed between the at least one inlet and the elongated paths, the flexible diaphragm having a plurality of flow holes that permit flow to the elongated paths; and

wherein the flow regulator and the elongated paths cause a pressure drop between the at least one inlet and the plurality of outlets.

45. The irrigation apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a flow valve having a valve member having a first position preventing flow from the at least one inlet to the elongated paths when the incoming flow pressure is below a predetermined level and a second position permitting flow from the at least one inlet to the elongated paths when the incoming flow pressure is above a predetermined level.

37. 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, the elongated path being formed by a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers defining a void extending through at least one of the plurality of layers;

a flow regulator upstream of the elongated path to regulate flow to the elongated path and being dependent on incoming flow pressure;

a flexible diaphragm that is connected to the flow regulator and is configured to move the flow regulator based on the incoming flow pressure, the flexible diaphragm disposed between the at least one inlet and the elongated path, the flexible diaphragm having at least one flow hole that permits flow to the elongated path; and

wherein at least a portion of the flow regulator extends into the void and is movable relative to the plurality of layers with variation of the incoming flow pressure, and the flow regulator and the elongated path cause a pressure drop between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet.

38. The irrigation apparatus of claim 37 wherein the flow regulator includes a poppet that extends at least partially into the void.

39. The irrigation apparatus of claim 38 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, 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.

46. The irrigation apparatus of claim 37 further comprising a flow valve having a valve member having a first position preventing flow from the at least one inlet to the elongated path when the 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.