US3672571A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trickle irrigation system
Assignee: Visy Glass Operations Australia Pty Ltd
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Filing: 1970-08-11
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A system for irrigating a crop by a method commonly known as the trickle irrigation method or ''''drip'''' irrigation. The device has a primary duct to which irrigating water is supplied and at least one secondary duct either extending alongside in parallel relationship with the primary duct, or extending away from the primary duct. When the secondary ducts are situated to extend alongside the primary duct they are internally partitioned into a number of chambers. Each chamber is in fluid communication with the primary duct via at least one flow restricting transfer passage and is also provided with a plurality of flow restricting outlet passages. The number of outlet passages exceeds the number of transfer passages for a particular chamber. When the secondary ducts extend away from the primary duct the flow restricting transfer passage is provided in its connection to the primary duct and the secondary duct has a plurality of outlet passages. With the above systems the pressure of the irrigating water supplied is reduced by both the transfer and outlet passages and by being progressively sub-divided into a plurality of streams and thus the irrigating water issues from the system in the form of a plurality of low pressure trickles or drips. Lengths of small bore tubing may be placed in the outlet passages to allow further pressure reduction while the heights of the outlets of the small bore tubes may be adjustable above the secondary duct to enable more precise adjustment of the output from the system.
Inventors
- 👤 John Charles Goodricke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:00
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/02; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for irrigating a crop by the trickle or drip method, including at least one primary duct into which irrigating water is passed, at least one secondary duct extending in parallel relationship thereto, and at least one intermediate duct positioned between in continuous connection with the primary duct and said secondary duct, said system further including at least one flow restricting transfer passage extending between the primary duct and said intermediate duct to allow transfer of water to said intermediate duct with an accompanying drop in pressure, and a plurality of intermediate flow restricting transfer passages extending between said intermediate duct and secondary duct to allow transfer of water to said secondary duct with a further accompanying drop in pressure, each said secondary duct including a plurality of flow restricting outlet passages allowing transfer of water from the secondary duct to a crop with a still further drop in pressure wherein the number of transfer passages between said intermediate and secondary ducts exceeds the number of transfer passages between said primary and intermediate ducts and wherein the number of outlet passages in the secondary duct exceeds the number of transfer passages between it and said intermediate duct, whereby the irrigating water will issue from each said secondary duct in a plurality of low pressure trickles or drips.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for irrigating a crop by the trickle or drip method, including at least one primary duct into which irrigating water is passed, at least one secondary duct extending in parallel relationship thereto, and at least one intermediate duct positioned between in continuous connection with the primary duct and said secondary duct, said system further including at least one flow restricting transfer passage extending between the primary duct and said intermediate duct to allow transfer of water to said intermediate duct with an accompanying drop in pressure, and a plurality of intermediate flow restricting transfer passages extending between said intermediate duct and secondary duct to allow transfer of water to said secondary duct with a further accompanying drop in pressure, each said secondary duct including a plurality of flow restricting outlet passages allowing transfer of water from the secondary duct to a crop with a still further drop in pressure wherein the number of transfer passages between said intermediate and secondary ducts exceeds the number of transfer passages between said primary and intermediate ducts and wherein the number of outlet passages in the secondary duct exceeds the number of transfer passages between it and said intermediate duct, whereby the irrigating water will issue from each said secondary duct in a plurality of low pressure trickles or drips.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 including lengths of small bore tubing attached to said outlet passages from each said secondary duct.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said secondary duct and said intermediate duct are internally partitioned at intervals therealong to divide said secondary and intermediate ducts into a plurality of chambers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein there is one transfer passage for each of said chambers in each said intermediate duct and each chamber in each said intermediate duct includes a plurality of transfer passages to said secondary duct, and wherein there is one transfer passage into each said chamber in said secondary duct, and each chamber in said secondary duct includes a plurality of outlet passages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein there are 10 transfer passages to said secondary duct for each transfer passage to each chamber of said intermediate ducT, and ten outlet passages for each chamber of said secondary duct.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 further including means to adjust the height of an outlet end of said small bore tubes above the outlets from said secondary duct whereby the rate of discharge of irrigating water from said system may be further adjusted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system as claimed in claim 6 adapted for irrigating crops on sloping or undulating land, wherein sections of said ducts are supported in a horizontal plane at a predetermined height, whereby the rate of discharge of irrigating water from the outlet passages for each section will be substantially the same, and wherein the water transfer ducts are enclosed between said sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 adapted to irrigate a crop of young trees, including connecting said outlet passages in communication with hollow stakes inserted into the ground adjacent each tree to extend upwardly beside said tree, and said lengths of small bore tubing are inserted into said stakes above ground level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 adapted to irrigate a crop of mature trees with widespread root zones, including connecting said outlet passages to hollow stakes inserted into the ground adjacent each tree to extend upwardly beside said tree, and providing each stake with one or more outwardly extending hollow water conducting arms in communication with said hollow stakes and having outlets disposed away from said tree.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein more than one hollow arm is provided each of which extends radially outwardly from said stake, and wherein one or more of said arms are of different lengths.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |