Controllable emitter

• US 9,788,494 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamann, Hendrik F., Klein, Levente I., Rodriguez, Sergio A. Bermudez, Schappert, Michael A., Schrott, Alejandro G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barrera, Juan C
• Application Number:
  US14/853,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20160000024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 2395851, 239322, 239337, 239 71, 25112902, 25112904, 25112915
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/02 Watering arrangements located above the soil which make use of perforated pipe-lines or pipe-lines with dispensing fittings, e.g. for drip irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/023 Dispensing fittings for drip irrigation, e.g. drippers
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/026 Apparatus or processes for fitting the drippers to the hoses or the pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: B02B 5/00 Grain treatment not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/658 the spraying apparatus or its outlet axis being perpendicular to the flow conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/082 using a electromagnet and a permanent magnet

Abstract

A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line and a control station configured to control a pressure of pressurized fluid in the drip line is provided. The controllable emitter is disposable along the drip line and includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a piston, including a magnetic element, disposed at least partially in the container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid and a sensor configured to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station.

Claims

1. A method of assembling and deploying a controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line and a control station configured to control a pressure of pressurized fluid in the drip line, the method comprising:

coupling first and second containers to opposite sides of the drip line along a radial direction with the second container defining an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior;

positioning a piston, including a magnetic element, across the drip line and at least partially in the second container with the magnetic element at least partially in the first container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid; and

coupling a sensor to the first container to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising configuring a controllable actuator to generate a magnetic field operable to urge piston movement.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the controllable actuator comprises a solenoid and the piston comprises a magnetic material.

4. A method of assembling and deploying a controllable irrigation apparatus emitter including a drip line and a control station configured to control pressurization of the drip line, the method comprising:

coupling first and second containers to opposite sides of the drip line along a radial direction with the second container defining an interior and including an inlet through which fluid pressurizing the drip line is receivable in the interior and an outlet through which the fluid is exhaustible;

positioning a piston, including a magnetic element, across the drip line and at least partially in the second container with the magnetic element at least partially in the first container to occupy a position in accordance with drip line pressurization; and

communicating a sensed position of the magnetic element to the control station.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising configuring a controllable actuator to generate a magnetic field operable to urge piston movement.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the controllable actuator comprises a solenoid and the piston comprises a magnetic material.

7. An irrigation apparatus operating method, comprising:

pressurizing a drip line;

controlling pressurization of the drip line at a control station; and

disposing a controllable emitter along the drip line with the controllable emitter comprising;

first and second containers coupled to opposite sides of the drip line along a radial direction, respectively, the second container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which fluid for pressurizing the drip line is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the fluid is exhaustible from the interior;

a piston, including a magnetic element, the piston extending across the drip line and being disposed at least partially in the second container with the magnetic element disposed at least partially in the first container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid; and

a sensor coupled to the first container and configured to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station.

8. The irrigation apparatus operating method according to claim 7, further comprising configuring the control station to determine a drip rate of the controllable emitter.

9. The irrigation apparatus operating method according to claim 7, further comprising configuring a controllable actuator to generate a magnetic field operable to urge piston movement.

10. The irrigation apparatus operating method according to claim 9, wherein the controllable actuator comprises a solenoid and the piston comprises a magnetic material.