Agricultural irrigation system

Claim 2

An agricultural irrigation system comprising a source of water under pressure, a plurality of emitters located in a pattern for irrigating an area, each emitter comprising a vessel functioning as a water reservoir, means connecTing said vessels to a source of water under pressure, outlet means for each vessel for the flow of water therefrom, and pressure operated valve means in said outlet means responsive to a reduction in inlet pressure to open and permit flow of water from the vessels.

Claim 3

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 1, further characterized in the provision of means for retracting water from said means connecting said vessels to the source of water under pressure to thereby reduce the inlet pressure and cause said pressure operated valve means to open.

Claim 4

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 1, further characterized in the provision of means for applying a negative pressure to said pressure operated valve means to cause said valve means to open.

Claim 5

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said pressure operated valve means includes a valve element movable to one position to close the outlet means from each vessel and open the inlet means to each vessel upon the application of a predetermined inlet water pressure and to move to another position upon reduction in the inlet pressure to open the outlet means and close the inlet means of each vessel.

Claim 6

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 4, further characterized in that said valve element comprises an elastomeric sleeve-like element having one open end connected to the inlet means, the other end of said element being free from restraint and extending into an opening provided in the vessel, secondary openings provided downstream from said opening in the vessel, the free end of the valve element flexing radially outwardly upon the application of inlet pressure to close said opening in the vessel and prevent water from escaping therefrom while permitting water to be charged thereinto, said free end collapsing upon reduction of inlet pressure to thereby permit flow of water through the opening into the vessel and thence through said secondary openings for irrigation purposes.

Claim 7

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 5, further characterized in that the free end of said valve element is generally cone-shaped, the cone being slit at the apex thereof to define a pair of lips capable of flexing radially outwardly and radially inwardly in accordance with applied pressure.

Claim 8

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 5, further characterized in the provision of means for applying a negative pressure to the valve element to cause collapse thereof and closing thereof to prevent water flow back thereinto.

Claim 9

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 5, further characterized in that said valve element is positioned in the lower portion of the vessel whereby water within the vessel exerts a pressure thereagainst tending to collapse the valve element upon a reduction of inlet water pressure.

Claim 10

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the vessel does not have a vent opening for escape of air as the vessel is filled whereby air is entrapped in the upper portions of the vessel during filling with water, said trapped air being in compression after the vessel is filled and aiding in causing water to flow from the vessel upon opening of the outlet means.

Claim 11

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said pressure operated valve means includes a flexible tubular element, said vessel having an opening thereinto through which the tubular element extends, said tubular element flexing radially outwardly upon the application of inlet water pressure to the interior thereof to close said opening and prevent water from flowing from the vessel during the time that inlet pressure is applied, said tubular element collapsing upon a reduction of inlet pressure to thereby permit flow of water from the vessel through said opening for irrigation purposes.

Claim 12

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 10, furtheR characterized in the provision of second valve means in the vessel connected to said flexible tube, said second valve means including a check valve element movable to one position upon application of input water under pressure to permit filling of the vessel and movable to a second position upon a reduction of inlet water pressure to close said second valve means and prevent outflow of water from the vessel back into the inlet means.

Claim 13

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 11, further characterized in that said second valve means includes a valve body having an interior chamber with an inlet opening thereto connected to the flexible tube and an outlet opening for passage of water into the vessel, a flexible sheet structure lining the interior of said chamber and including at least one flexible movable wall element positioned adjacent the inlet opening to said chamber, inlet water pressure causing said wall element to flex radially inwardly to thus permit passage of water into the chamber and thence into the vessel, said wall portion flexing to close the inlet opening to the chamber upon a reduction of inlet pressure thereby preventing outflow of water from the vessel back into the inlet means.

Claim 14

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 1, further characterised in the provision of a float within said vessel, a valve body having an interior chamber connected to the inlet means, said valve body having an outlet therefrom communicating with the interior of the vessel, a valve element within said chamber, means connecting said valve element to the float whereby when the float rises to a predetermined level, the valve element will close the outlet from the valve body and prevent further charging of water into the vessel.

Claim 15

An agricultural irrigation system as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said inlet and outlet means are integrated together and comprise an inlet conduit extending into the vessel, a valve body located interiorly of the vessel and connected in fluid communication with the inlet conduit, said valve body having an upper chamber and a lower chamber interconnected by a passageway of reduced diameter with respect to the diameters of the chambers, said inlet conduit being connected to said passageway, a movable check valve element provided in each of the upper chamber and the lower chamber, opening means for discharge of water from the vessel in the lower portion of said valve body, opening means in the upper portion of the chamber for flow of water from the valve body into the vessel for filling of the vessel, the lower valve element being moved to a position to close the discharge opening means upon the application of inlet water pressure, the upper valve being moved out of restricting position upon the application of inlet water pressure, vacuum means connected to the inlet conduit and being operative upon filling of the vessel to apply a negative pressure to the interior of the valve body to move the lower valve element upwardly and open the outlet for discharge of water from the vessel and move the upper valve element downwardly into a position blocking said passageway to prevent flow of water from the vessel back into the inlet conduit.

Claim 18

The meThod as defined in claim 15, further characterized in the simultaneous application of a negative pressure to the valve means of each vessel for actuation of the valve means to open the valve means when desired.