US3797754A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous tube trickle irrigation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-06-21
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1993-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A continuous tube trickle irrigator including a tubular member having longitudinally extending membrane forming with the surrounding tubular member a main flow passage and a flush flow passage, the membrane having a series of longitudinally spaced inlet openings communicating between the main flow passage and the flush flow passage, and the tubular member having a series of outlet openings longitudinally offset from the inlet openings, to form between the openings a series of self flushing emitters which permit flush flow when the pressure in the main passage is below a predetermined minimum value, the membrane being collapsible in the vicinity of each outlet opening above such minimum pressure to form with the tubular member a series of trickle passages.
Inventors
- 👤 L Spencer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:16
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/3149; Y10T137/3185; Y10T137/3294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A continuous tube trickle irrigator, comprising: a. an elongated tubular member; b. an elongated membrane dividing the tubular member longitudinally to form a main flow passage and a flush flow passage; c. a series of longitudinally spaced inlet openings piercing the membrane for communication between the main flow passage and flush flow passage; d. a series of outlet openings, longitudinally offset from the inlet openings, piercing the segment of the tubular member forming a wall of the flush flow passage, the inlet and outlet openings dividing the flush flow passage into a series of separate flush flow passages; e. The flexible membrane including marginal wall portions biased to diverge from said segment of the tubular member, whereby, when the main flow passage is subjected to water pressure below a predetermined valve, the flush flow passages are maintained open for flush flow of water therethrough; f. the flexible membrane being responsive to water pressure in the main flow passage to engage said segment of the tubular member and close the flush flow passages; and g. portions of said membrane and segment defining therebetween, on closing of the flush flow passages, a series of trickle flow passages discharging at the outlet openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A continuous tube trickle irrigator, comprising: a. an elongated tubular member; b. an elongated membrane dividing the tubular member longitudinally to form a main flow passage and a flush flow passage; c. a series of longitudinally spaced inlet openings piercing the membrane for communication between the main flow passage and flush flow passage; d. a series of outlet openings, longitudinally offset from the inlet openings, piercing the segment of the tubular member forming a wall of the flush flow passage, the inlet and outlet openings dividing the flush flow passage into a series of separate flush flow passages; e. The flexible membrane including marginal wall portions biased to diverge from said segment of the tubular member, whereby, when the main flow passage is subjected to water pressure below a predetermined valve, the flush flow passages are maintained open for flush flow of water therethrough; f. the flexible membrane being responsive to water pressure in the main flow passage to engage said segment of the tubular member and close the flush flow passages; and g. portions of said membrane and segment defining therebetween, on closing of the flush flow passages, a series of trickle flow passages discharging at the outlet openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the flexible membrane further includes a pair of foldably connected central wall portions and foldable junctures joining the central wall portions to the marginal wall portions; b. the marginal wall portions being foldable against the said segment of the tubular member, and the central wall portions being foldable into mutual engagement, thereby to cause the folded junctures to form said trickle passages with said segment of the tubular member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the membrane is a section of a liner including a complementary section covering the walls of the main flow passage; b. the liner is axially slidable into the tubular member; c. and means is provided to orient the liner circumferentially thereby to position the outlet openings in communication with the flush flow passages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the flexible member is an arch segment including the marginal wall portions curving in the opposite direction from the confronting segment, the arch segment being collapsible into contact with the said segment of the tubular member; b. one of the segments having a groove therein forming a wall of the trickle passage when the segments are in mutual contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. the arch segment includes a central portion arching in the opposite direction to reduce the force required to collapse the arch segment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. a wall of each trickle passage is responsive to increased pressure to reduce the area of the trickle passage whereby the flow in the trickle passages tend to remain constant throughout a range of pressures in the main flow passage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the tubular member and membrane are portions of a common extrusion and the inlet openings in the membrane are formed during extrusion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the tubular member and membrane are portions of a common extrusion, perforations are formed in the tubular member simultaneously with forming the inlet openings, and plug elements are provided to close the perforations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the tubular member is initially formed of complementary longitudinally extending portions having interengaging margins for closing the tubular member, thereby to permit forming the inlet and outlet openings prior to closure of the tubing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the membrane is joined by a flexible web to a diametrically opposed portion of the tubular member; b. the tubular member is adapted to be flattened when not in use, assume an essentially oval shape when filled with water at low pressure, and assume an essentially circular shape when pressurized; c. the web retains the membrane in a condition permitting flush flow when the tubular member is flattened as well as when filled with water at low pressure, and permits collapse of the membrane to cause trickle flow when the pressure in the main flow passages exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A continuous tube trickle irrigator, comprising: a. an elongated tubular member; b. a series of self flushing emitter units disposed along and within the tubular member; c. each emitter including a fixed wall forming a portion of the tubular member and a confronting flexible wall joinEd at it''s circumferential margins to the fixed wall; an outlet port in the fixed wall, and an axially offset inlet port in the flexible wall; d. the flexible wall normally biased away from the fixed wall to form a flush passage between the inlet and outlet ports and responsive to a predetermined pressure differential between the pressure within the tubular member and the region within the flush passage adjacent the outlet port to collapse against the fixed wall and form therewith a trickle passage in said region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
A continuous tube trickle irrigator, comprising: a. an elongated tubular member; b. a series of self flushing emitter units disposed along and within the tubular member; c. each emitter including a fixed wall forming a portion of the tubular member and a confronting flexible wall joinEd at it''s circumferential margins to the fixed wall; an outlet port in the fixed wall, and an axially offset inlet port in the flexible wall; d. the flexible wall normally biased away from the fixed wall to form a flush passage between the inlet and outlet ports and responsive to a predetermined pressure differential between the pressure within the tubular member and the region within the flush passage adjacent the outlet port to collapse against the fixed wall and form therewith a trickle passage in said region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 11, wherein: a. a pair of inlet ports are disposed axially beyond opposite sides of the outlet port forming therewith a pair of flush passages and a pair of trickle passages.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 11, wherein: a. each flexible wall includes foldable sections, the fixed wall includes fixed obtusely related sections, and the trickle passage is formed at the juncture of said sections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 11, wherein: a. each flexible wall and fixed wall, when forming a flush passage, define arches curving in opposite directions, and when forming the trickle passage the flexible wall conforms to the fixed wall, there being a trickle channel in one of the walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 11, wherein: a. a portion of the boundary of the trickle passage is yieldable to increased pressure in the tubular member to further restrict the trickle passage thereby tending to maintain constant flow through a range of pressures.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 11, wherein: a. the tubular member is an extrusion initially comprising segments having peripheral margins including means for mutual interlocking and sealing attachment, thereby permitting access to form the ports.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 16, wherein: a. the walls of the tubular member are flexible to permit flattening for storage, to assume an essentially oval shape when filled with water at a pressure sufficiently low to cause formation of flush passages, and to assume an essentially circular shape at higher pressures sufficient to cause formation of trickle passages; b. and a web is attached to the flexible wall and the tubular member for controlling the position of the flexible wall in response to change in shape of the tubular member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
A trickle irrigator as defined in claim 11, wherein: a. the tubular member is compressible to press the flexible wall between opposite portions of the tubular member for piercing the flexible wall and overlying portions of the tubular member simultaneously, and plug means for subsequently closing the holes pierced in the tubular member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
168 words
An irrigation line for trickle irrigation systems, comprising: a. a tubular member; b. a flexible membrane joined at its lateral margins to the inner surface of the tubular member to define with a confronting segment of the tubular member an axially extending flow passage; c. inlet openings provided in the membrane in spaced axial relation; d. outlet openings provided in the confronting segment of the tube member in axially spaced relation to the inlet openings; e. the flexible membrane including marginal wall portions biased to diverge from the confronting segment of the tubing member, whereby, when the tubular member is subjected to water pressure below a predetermined value, the membrane and confronting segment form longitudinal water flushing passages between the inlet and outlet openings; f. the flexible membrane being deflectable by water pressure above said predetermined pressure into engagement with the confronting segment; g. and means forming reduced trickle flow passages between the inlet and outlet openings upon deflection of the membrane into engagement with the confronting segment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
168 words
An irrigation line for trickle irrigation systems, comprising: a. a tubular member; b. a flexible membrane joined at its lateral margins to the inner surface of the tubular member to define with a confronting segment of the tubular member an axially extending flow passage; c. inlet openings provided in the membrane in spaced axial relation; d. outlet openings provided in the confronting segment of the tube member in axially spaced relation to the inlet openings; e. the flexible membrane including marginal wall portions biased to diverge from the confronting segment of the tubing member, whereby, when the tubular member is subjected to water pressure below a predetermined value, the membrane and confronting segment form longitudinal water flushing passages between the inlet and outlet openings; f. the flexible membrane being deflectable by water pressure above said predetermined pressure into engagement with the confronting segment; g. and means forming reduced trickle flow passages between the inlet and outlet openings upon deflection of the membrane into engagement with the confronting segment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
A trickle irrigation line as defined in claim 19, wherein: a. the flexible membrane further incLudes a pair of foldably connected central wall portions and foldable junctures joining the central wall portions to the marginal wall portions; b. the marginal wall portions being foldable against the confronting segment, and the central wall portions being foldable into mutual engagement; thereby to cause the junctures to form trickle passage with the opposing portion of the confronting segment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |