US3860179A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drip irrigation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-01
•
Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1992-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A combined flow and discharge fitting for a continuous drip irrigation system comprises a flow conduit having at least one capillary tube at least partially embedded in the wall of the flow conduit. A method of continuous drip irrigation includes the step of discharging water drop-wise from a flow conduit via a plurality of spaced capillary tubes, at least some of the capillary tubes having different effective lengths to compensate for differences in internal pressure in the conduit, and to permit turbulent flow rates to be used in the conduit.
Inventors
- 👤 Erminio Natale Costa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:01
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/02; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/22; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/19; Y10T24/1903; Y10T24/1907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A combined flow and discharge fitting for a continuous drip irrigation system, comprising a flow conduit having at least one capillary tube at least partially embedded in the wall of the flow conduit and a plug having an elongated body portion inserted through one of the capillary tubes to extend into the flow conduit, said capillary tube having an external discharge opening on one side of the plug and the plug having a single passage at least in part of cross-sectional flow area less than the cross-sectional flow area of said capillary tube, which passage places the flow conduit in communication with said capillary tube on the side of the plug on which the external discharge opening is located, the plug isolating the capillary tube on the other side of the plug from the external discharge opening and from the flow conduit, the diametrical dimensions of the plug at all positions inwardly of the capillary tube being not more than about double the diametrical dimension of the passage, and the plug being held frictionally in position in the capillary tube and conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A combined flow and discharge fitting for a continuous drip irrigation system, comprising a flow conduit having at least one capillary tube at least partially embedded in the wall of the flow conduit and a plug having an elongated body portion inserted through one of the capillary tubes to extend into the flow conduit, said capillary tube having an external discharge opening on one side of the plug and the plug having a single passage at least in part of cross-sectional flow area less than the cross-sectional flow area of said capillary tube, which passage places the flow conduit in communication with said capillary tube on the side of the plug on which the external discharge opening is located, the plug isolating the capillary tube on the other side of the plug from the external discharge opening and from the flow conduit, the diametrical dimensions of the plug at all positions inwardly of the capillary tube being not more than about double the diametrical dimension of the passage, and the plug being held frictionally in position in the capillary tube and conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 1, in which the fitting is formed by integrally extruding the tube of tubes and conduit so that the capillary tube is partially embedded in the wall of the flow conduit, and in which the thickness of the wall of the capillary tube, where the wall of the capillary tube projects out of the wall of the flow conduit, measured in a direction radial relative to the capillary tube, is substantially constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 1, in which each capillary tube is held in a groove in the outer surface of the wall of the conduit by an interference fit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
A plug for preparing for use a fitting as claimed in claim 1, the plug having an elongated body portion and being adapted to be inserted through one of the capillary tubes to extend into the flow conduit, the plug having a single passage to place the flow conduit in communication with the tube when the plug is in position in the tube the passage at all positions having a diametrical dimension which is not more than about half the diametrical dimension of the part of the plug along which the passage extends, and the passage having a cross-sectional flow area which is less than that of the capillary tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 1, in which the plug tapers along its length from the capillary tube towards the interior of the flow conduit, so that the plug has a minimum diametrical dimension at its inner end, the passage opening out of the inner end of the plug into the conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 5, in which the passage tapers from the capillary tube towards the interior of the flow conduit so that the passage and plug have a minimum diameter at the inner end of the plUg, the plug and passage both being of circular cross-section and being substantially coaxial.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 2, in which the diameter of the capillary tube is substantially the same as the thickness of the wall of the flow conduit remote from the capillary tube, and the thickness of material on opposite sides of the capillary tube between the capillary tube and respectively the interior and exterior of the flow conduit, in a direction radial to the flow conduit, it about half the thickness in a radial direction elsewhere of the wall of the flow conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 1, which includes a plurality of said capillary tubes, circumferentially spaced, and in which each of the capillary tubes has a plurality of said plugs spaced along its length, each mutually adjacent pair of plugs in a capillary tube isolating therebetween a length of the capillary tube from the remainder of the capillary tube, said length being in communication with the flow conduit via one of the plugs and having an external discharge opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
168 words
A combined flow and discharge fitting for a continuous drip irrigation system, comprising a flow conduit having at least one capillary tube partially embedded in the wall of the flow conduit, and a plug having an elongated body portion inserted through the capillary tube to extend into the flow conduit, the capillary tube having an external discharge opening on one side of the plug and the plug having a single passage which places the flow conduit in communication with the capillary tube on that side of the plug on which the external discharge opening is located, the plug isolating the capillary tube on the other side of the plug from the external discharge opening and from the flow conduit, the flow conduit and the capillary tube being in the form of an integral extrusion and the thickness of the wall of the capillary tube, where it projects out of the wall of the flow conduit, measured in a direction radial relative to the capillary tube, being substantially constant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
A combined flow and discharge fitting for a continuous drip irrigation system, comprising a flow conduit having at least one capillary tube partially embedded in the wall of the flow conduit, and a plug having an elongated body portion inserted through the capillary tube to extend into the flow conduit, the capillary tube having an external discharge opening on one side of the plug and the plug having a single passage which places the flow conduit in communication with the capillary tube on that side of the plug on which the external discharge opening is located, the plug isolating the capillary tube on the other side of the plug from the external discharge opening and from the flow conduit, the flow conduit and the capillary tube being in the form of an integral extrusion and the thickness of the wall of the capillary tube, where it projects out of the wall of the flow conduit, measured in a direction radial relative to the capillary tube, being substantially constant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 9, in which the passage of the plug at least in part has a cross-sectional flow area which is less than the cross-sectional flow area of the capillary tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A plug as claimed in claim 4, in which one end of the passage opens out of the side of the plug and the other end of the passage opens out of an end of the plug, the passage and plug tapering smoothly from the position where the passage opens out of the side of the plug to the said end of the plug.
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) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |