Apparatus and method for irrigation

Claim 2

An irrigation emitting unit suitable for parallel engagement with a water supply line and comprising: a water reservoir arranged to receive an intermittent supply of water from a water supply line; and valve means operative to govern the water output from said reservoir in response to the pressure of the water source for providing an intermittent outflow from said water reservoir, said valve means comprising: a water inlet; first and second valve seats; said first valve seat communicating with a water outlet from said reservoir; said second valve seat communicating with a water inlet to said reservoir from said water supply line; and a sealing member arranged for selectable engagement with said first and second valve seats.

Claim 3

Irrigation apparatus comprising: apparatus for providing an intermittent supply of water; a water supply line receiving said intermittent supply of water; and a plurality of emitting units connected in parallel with said water supply line along the extent thereof, each of said emitting units comprising a water reservoir and valve means operative to govern the water output from said reservoir.

Claim 4

Irrigation apparatus comprising: apparatus for providing an intermittent supply of water; a water supply line receiving said intermittent supply of water; and a plurality of emitting units connected in parallel with said water supply line along the extent thereof, each of said emitting units comprising a water reservoir and valve means operative to govern the water output from said reservoir.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to either of the preceding claims and wherein said valve means is operative when the pressure in said water supply line exceeds a predetermined first threshold to prevent water outflow from said reservoir.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said valve means is operative to prevent outflow from said reservoir while inflow to said reservoir from said water supply line takes place.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said valve means is operative when the pressure in said water supply line exceeds a predetermined second threshold, higher than said first threshold, to permit water flow from said water supply line to said reservoir.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said valve means is operative to provide a generally uniform output independent of variations in the operating pressure of said water supply line.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said water supply line may be maintained at a selectable pressure in excess of 5 Atm. without requiring adjustment of said valve means.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said water supply line has a length in excess of 200 meters and wherein said emitter is operative to provide a generally uniform output flow irrespective of its location along said water supply line.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said water supply line has a length of approximately 1000 meters.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said valve means comprises a coil spring which normally urges said sealing member out of engagement with said first valve seat and in sealing engagement with said second valve seat.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said sealing member is operative under increasing pressure at said water supply line to first sealingly seat in said first valve seat before breaking sealing contact with said second valve seat.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said valve means also comprises outlet means arranged to provide a flow of water from said reservoir to a location under the ground surface. ,

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 12 and wherein said outlet means includes a spike arranged to be located partially under the ground surfaces and having exit apertures for water located under the ground surface when the spike is normally inserted therein.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said apparatus for providing an intermittent supply of water is coupled to liquid drainage means for draining liquid from said water supply line, and wherein said drainage means comprises reservoir apparatus for storing"said drained water and for returning water stored in said reservoir apparatus to said water supply line.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said emitting unit comprises a first element including means for coupling to a water supply line and said valve means and a cap unit of selectable size which determines the size of the reservoir and thus the flow capacity of the emitting unit.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said intermittent supply of water is operative to provide a periodic supply of water.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said intermittent supply of water is operative to provide an intermittent supply of pressurized water at a rate of between 2 and 50 cycles per minute.

Claim 22

A method of irrigation according to claim 18 and wherein said providing step comprises the steps of: supplying water to said emitter line; sensing the pressure at a desired location along said emitter line; terminating the supply of water when the sensed pressure reaches a given high pressure threshold; sensing the pressure at a desired location along said emitter line; ., commencing the supply of water when the sensed pressure reaches a predetermined low pressure threshold.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 19 and also comprising the steps of draining water from the emitter line following said terminating step; and storing water drained from said emitter line and of returning the stored water during said commencing step.

Claim 24

An irrigation emitter comprising: a water reservoir arranged to receive an intermittent supply of water from a water supply line; valve means operative to govern the water output from said reservoir in response to the pressure of the water source for providing an intermittent outflow from said water reservoir; and limiting means for limiting the maximum amount of water received by said reservoir.

Claim 25

An irrigation emitter comprising: a water reservoir arranged to receive an intermittent supply of water from a water supply line; valve means operative to govern the water output from said reservoir in response to the pressure of the water source for providing an intermittent outflow from said water reservoir; and limiting means for limiting the maximum amount of water received by said reservoir.

Claim 26

An irrigation emitter according to claim 21 and wherein said limiting means comprise a water quantity responsive valve fixedly or selectably disposed within said reservoir.

Claim 27

An irrigation emitter according to claim 21 and wherein said limiting means comprise a diaphragm having a limited maximum displacement within said reservoir.

Claim 28

2 4. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 - 23 and wherein said valve means is operative to meter a predetermined amount of water into said reservoir during each pressurization cycle thereof, independently of variations in the water supply line pressure thereat.

Claim 29

An irrigation emitter suitable for series engagement with a water supply line having an upstream portion connecting said emitter with a source of water supply and a downstream portion connecting said emitter to additional emitters whose water supply first passes through said emitter, said emitter comprising: a water reservoir arranged to receive an intermittent supply of water from said water supply line; and valve means operative to govern the water output from said reservoir in response to the pressure of the water source for providing an intermittent outflow from water reservoir downstream thereof; said valve means comprising first and second valve seats; a water inlet communicating with the upstream portion of said water supply line; a first conduit communicating with said reservoir and said water inlet at a first end and with said second valve seat at a second end; a water exit nozzle communicating with said first valve seat; a sealing member disposed in a sealing member chamber for selectable engagement with either of said first and second valve seats; and a downstream water outlet communicating with said downstream portion of said water supply line and with said sealing member chamber.

Claim 30

An irrigation emitter suitable for series engagement with a water supply line having an upstream portion connecting said emitter with a source of water supply and a downstream portion connecting said emitter to additional emitters whose water supply first passes through said emitter, said emitter comprising: a water reservoir arranged to receive an intermittent supply of water from said water supply line; and valve means operative to govern the water output from said reservoir in response to the pressure of the water source for providing an intermittent outflow from water reservoir downstream thereof; said valve means comprising first and second valve seats; a water inlet communicating with the upstream portion of said water supply line; a first conduit communicating with said reservoir and said water inlet at a first end and with said second valve seat at a second end; a water exit nozzle communicating with said first valve seat; a sealing member disposed in a sealing member chamber for selectable engagement with either of said first and second valve seats; and a downstream water outlet communicating with said downstream portion of said water supply line and with said sealing member chamber.

Claim 31

An irrigation emitter according to claim 25 and wherein said sealing member is operative, when the upstream pressure exceeds the downstream pressure by more than a predetermined threshold, to engage said first valve seat preventing water outflow through said water exit nozzle and to permit water flowthrough from said water inlet to said downstream water outlet; and when said upstream pressures does not exceed said downstream. pressure by more than said predetermined threshold to engage said second valve seat permitting water outflow through said water exit nozzle.

Claim 32

An irrigation emitter according to claim 25 and wherein said water inlet defines a venturi which is effective to lower the pressure at said first conduit in response to water flow through said water inlet.

Claim 33

An irrigation emitter according to claim 27 and wherein said sealing member is operative when the pressure at said first conduit exceeds the downstream pressure by more than a predetermined threshold, to engage said first valve seat preventing water outflow through said water exit nozzle and to permit water flowthrough from said water inlet to said downstream water outlet; and when the pressure at said first conduit does not exceed the downstream pressure by more than said predetermined threshold, to engage said second valve seat permitting water outflow through said water exit nozzle.

Claim 34

An irrigation emitter according to claim 25 and also comprising means reducing the pressure at said first conduit below the pressure at said water inlet in response to water flow therethrough.

Claim 35

Apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 17 and also comprising limiting means for limiting the maximum amount of water received by said reservoir.

Claim 36

Apparatus according to claim 30 and wherein said limiting . means comprise a water quantity responsive valve fixedly or selectably disposed within said reservoir.

Claim 37

Apparatus according to claim 30 and wherein said limiting means comprise a diaphragm having a limited maximum displacement within said reservoir.

Claim 38

Apparatus according to claim 25 and also comprising limiting means for limiting the maximum amount of water received by said reservoir.

Claim 39

Apparatus according to claim 33 and wherein said limiting means comprise a water quantity responsive valve fixedly or selectably disposed within said reservoir.

Claim 40

Apparatus according to claim 33 and wherein said limiting means comprise a diaphragm having a limited maximum displacement within said reservoir.

Claim 41

An irrigation emitter according to any of claims 1 - 17 and also comprising spring biased means for removing water from said reservoir.

Claim 42

An irrigation emitter according to any of claims 21 - 29 and also comprising spring biased means for removing water from said reservoir.

Claim 43

An irrigation emitter according to any of claims 1, and 21 - 26 and wherein said reservoir is incorporated as part of a mounting spike associated with said emitter.

Claim 44

Irrigation apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein the periodicity of said intermittent supply of water is a positive function of the pressure at said water supply line.

Claim 45

A sprinkler operative in response to a water supply which varies in quantity and/or pressure and comprising: a housing defining a water inlet; a stem arranged for axial movement relative to said housing in response to variations in said water supply; means for converting axial movement of said stem to stepwise rotational movement thereof; and water outlet means associated with said stem for undergoing a desired rotational movement.

Claim 46

A sprinkler operative in response to a water supply which varies in quantity and/or pressure and comprising: a housing defining a water inlet; a stem arranged for axial movement relative to said housing in response to variations in said water supply; means for converting axial movement of said stem to stepwise rotational movement thereof; and water outlet means associated with said stem for undergoing a desired rotational movement.

Claim 47

A sprinkler operative in response to a water supply which varies in quantity and/or pressure and comprising: a housing defining a water inlet; a stem including water outlet means rotatably mounted in said housing; means for causing.said housing to undergo axial movement in response to variations in said water supply; and means for converting the axial movement of said housing to stepwise rotation of said stem.

Claim 48

A sprinkler operative in response to a water supply which varies in quantity and/or pressure and comprising: a housing defining a water inlet; a stem including water outlet means rotatably mounted in said housing; means for causing.said housing to undergo axial movement in response to variations in said water supply; and means for converting the axial movement of said housing to stepwise rotation of said stem.

Claim 49

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 17 and 21-39 and also comprising a sprinkler coupled to said water outlet.

Claim 50

Apparatus according to claim 42 and wherein said sprinkler is constructed in accordance with either of claims 40 and 41.

Claim 51

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said means for converting comprising first and second toothed surfaces mounted onto said housing in spaced facing orientation and in out of phase relationship and tooth means coupled to said stem for selectable engagement with said first and second toothed surfaces.

Claim 52

Apparatus according to any of claims 40 - 44 and also comprising means for selectably limiting the azimuth of rotation of said sprinkler.