Irrigation pipe gate valve with flow control

Claim 2

In an irrigation pipe having a discharge opening therein for discharging water, a flow gate for controlling the rate of discharge of water for maintaining a substantially constant volume of discharge from the pipe during pressure variation of the water in the pipe, said flow gate comprising a valve associated with the opening in the pipe for controlling discharge through the opening, means biasing said valve to an open position to enable maximum flow of water from the interior of the pipe to the exterior thereof, and means operatively associated with the valve for moving the valve toward a closed position against the resistance of the biasing means in response to volume of flow of water from the pipe for controlling the position of the valve in response to volume flow of water from the interior to the exterior of the pipe, said means operatively associated with the valve including a flow responsive member positioned in the flow path of the water on the downstream side of the valve, said flow responsive member including a plate in position for engagement by flowing water on the downstream side of the valve, means connecting the plate to the valve for moving the valve in accordance with movement of the plate, said plate being in the form of a piston, a cylinder receiving said piston, one end of the cylinder having an inlet opening, said valve being positioned in said inlet opening, said means connecting the piston and valve including a rod member rigidly interconnecting the piston and valve for moving the valve with the piston when water engages the piston and moves it longitudinally in the cylinder in response to volume flow.

Claim 3

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means biasing the valve to an open position includes a spring device disposed in the cylinder and engaged with the piston for maintaining the piston in a position for retaining the valve open when the spring is in expanded relaxed condition, said spring device offering resistance to movement of the piston upon impingement of water upon the piston as it enters through the inlet opening.

Claim 4

The Structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve is tapered from an inner smaller cross-sectional dimension to an outer larger cross-sectional dimension for association with the inlet opening for progressively decreasing flow of water into the cylinder.

Claim 5

The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said cylinder is provided with an outlet opening in the wall thereof between the piston and the inlet opening, said opening in the cylinder wall being aligned with and communicating with the discharge opening in the pipe, and means mounting the cylinder on the pipe in a manner to vary the alignment position of the opening in the cylinder and the pipe to vary the effective discharge area of the opening in the cylinder and pipe.

Claim 6

The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said rod member connecting the piston and valve is in the form of a piston rod of cruciform configuration slidably guided by reception in the inlet opening with the valve being of unitary construction with the piston rod and having a major diameter substantially equal to the outer periphery of the piston rod.

Claim 7

The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said cylinder mounting means includes a threaded mounting stud extending from the interior of the cylinder through a longitudinal slot in the irrigation pipe to the exterior thereof with a retaining fastener thereon for mounting the cylinder longitudinally adjustably interiorly of the pipe, said stud including a passageway extending therethrough communicating with the interior of the cylinder in remote relation to the inlet opening therein, the end of the cylinder remote from the inlet opening having a closed end with the passageway through the stud venting the closed end of the cylinder to the atmosphere to prevent pressure buildup therein.

Claim 8

The structure as defined in claim 6 together with resilient stop means in the end of the cylinder having the inlet opening therein and extending axially toward the piston to limit movement of the piston toward the inlet opening in order to assure that the opening in the cylinder will be communication with the interior of the cylinder at all times.

Claim 9

A control device for regulating flow of fluid comprising valve means located in the flow path of the fluid and being capable of opening and closing movement to regulate flow, a control member operatively associated with said valve means for controlling the position thereof, said control member being located in the flow path downstream of the valve means for controlling the position of the valve means in response to the volume of flow past the control member, and means operatively associated with said valve means and control member to bias the valve means toward an open position, said control member being oriented in the flow path whereby engagement of fluid therewith will urge the control member in a direction to move the valve means towards closed position against the resistance of said bias means, said bias mens including a spring device urging said valve means toward open position, said valve means including an opening defining a valve seat and a tapered valve member movable with respect to the opening to provide progressive increase and decrease in the effective area for flow of fluid between the valve member and opening.

Claim 10

A control device for regulating flow of fluid comprising valve means located in the flow path of the fluid and being capable of opening and closing movement to regulate flow, a control member operatively associated with said valve means for controlling the position thereof, said control member being located in the flow path downstream of the valve means for controlling the position of the valve means in response to the volume of flow past the control member, and means operatively associated with said valve means and control member to bias the valve means toward an open position, said control member being oriented in the flow path whereby engagement of fluid therewith will urge the control member in a direction to move the valve means towards closed position against the resistance of said bias means, said bias mens including a spring device urging said valve means toward open position, said valve means including an opening defining a valve seat and a tapered valve member movable with respect to the opening to provide progressive increase and decrease in the effective area for flow of fluid between the valve member and opening.

Claim 11

The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein a plurality of said control devices are positioned in an irrigation pipe having a plurality of discharge openings therein for controlling flow of water therethrough, means mounting each control device adjustably in relation to the pipe for controlling the effective size of the discharge openings, said valve member and control member being interconnected by a rod, said control member being in the form of a piston, a cylinder mounted on the interior of the pipe slidably receiving said piston, said cylinder having an opening in the cylindrical wall thereof in communication with the discharge opening in the pipe, said cylinder having end walls with one end wall having said valve seat thereiN, said spring device including a coil spring between the piston and the other end wall of the cylinder to bias the piston and valve member toward an open position, and stop means limiting movement of the piston toward the valve seat to prevent movement of the piston to a position that would close the opening in the cylindrical wall of the cylinder.

Claim 12

The structure as defined in claim 9 wherein said means mounting the cylinder on the irrigation pipe including a tubular mounting fastener extending from the interior of the cylinder adjacent the end wall which is engaged by the spring through a sealed slot in the irrigation pipe thereby venting the cylinder inwardly of the piston and enabling adjustment of the opening in the cylinder wall in relation to the discharge opening to vary the effective area thereof.

Claim 13

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said cylinder is disposed radially through the irrigation pipe, said piston including means operatively associated with the cylinder to enable water flow from the inlet opening in the cylinder to the discharge opening, and a spring device associated with said rod member, piston and valve to bias the valve toward open position.

Claim 14

The structure as defined in claim 11 wherein said piston is adjustably mounted on the rod member and oriented at one end of the cylinder and having a periphery spaced axially therefrom to enable discharge flow from the cylinder.

Claim 15

The structure as defined in claim 11 wherein the inner end of said cylinder is of right angular configuration, said rod interconnecting the piston and valve being of bell crank configuration and pivotally mounted on the cylinder for transmitting movement of the piston to the valve.

Claim 16

In an irrigation pipe having a plurality of discharge openings therein for discharging water, a flow gate associated with each opening for controlling the rate of discharge of water for maintaining a substantially constant volume of water discharge from each opening during pressure variation of the water in the pipe, said flow gate comprising a tubular member having an inlet opening in communication with the interior of the pipe and an outlet for discharge of water, a valve associated with the inlet opening in the tubular member for controlling water flow therethrough, spring means biasing said valve to an open position to enable maximum flow of water from the interior of the pipe to the exterior thereof, and means operatively associated with the valve for moving the valve toward a closed position against the resistance of the spring means in response to the volume of flow of water discharged from the pipe for controlling the position of the valve in relation to the inlet opening, said means operatively associated with the valve including a flow responsive member positioned in the flow path of water on the downstream side of the inlet opening and valve, said flow responsive member including plate means positioned for engagement by water, flowing from the inlet opening in the tubular member to the outlet without substantial restriction of such flow for moving the plate means in response to the volume of flow through the outlet means interconnecting the plate means and valve for moving the valve in accordance with movement of the plate means whereby variation in the rate of flow through the outlet results in a corresponding variation in the position of the valve in relation to the inlet opening.

Claim 17

In an irrigation pipe having a plurality of discharge openings therein for discharging water, a flow gate associated with each opening for controlling the rate of discharge of water for maintaining a substantially constant volume of water discharge from each opening during pressure variation of the water in the pipe, said flow gate comprising a tubular member having an inlet opening in communication with the interior of the pipe and an outlet for discharge of water, a valve associated with the inlet opening in the tubular member for controlling water flow therethrough, spring means biasing said valve to an open position to enable maximum flow of water from the interior of the pipe to the exterior thereof, and means operatively associated with the valve for moving the valve toward a closed position against the resistance of the spring means in response to the volume of flow of water discharged from the pipe for controlling the position of the valve in relation to the inlet opening, said means operatively associated with the valve including a flow responsive member positioned in the flow path of water on the downstream side of the inlet opening and valve, said flow responsive member including plate means positioned for engagement by water, flowing from the inlet opening in the tubular member to the outlet without substantial restriction of such flow for moving the plate means in response to the volume of flow through the outlet means interconnecting the plate means and valve for moving the valve in accordance with movement of the plate means whereby variation in the rate of flow through the outlet results in a corresponding variation in the position of the valve in relation to the inlet opening.

Claim 18

The structure as defined in claim 14 wherein said means interconnecting the plate means and valve includes a rigid member, said tubular member defining at least a portion of the flow path of water with the plate means having a peripheral dimension similar to the cross-sectional dimension of the tubular member with the plate means oriented in relation to the tubular member whereby passing through the tubular member will impinge upon the plate means on the downstream side of the valve, said valve and inlet opening being constructed whereby movement of the valve in relation to tHe inlet opening provides a progressive change in the rate of flow of water through the inlet opening.