Emitter for low rate, low pressure discharge of irrigating water

Claim 2

An emitter for distributing water at a low rate and low pressure uniformly to a plurality of selected areas from a single water source of considerably higher pressure, said emitter comprising: a tubular core of generally cylindrical shape and adapted to be connected at one end to the water source for receiving water under relatively high pressure; a rib disposed in a helical configuration around a portion of said core and beginning adjacent the end of said core remote from said one end; a casing of generally cylindrical shape surrounding a portion of said core and cooperating with said rib to define a helical path having an inlet end and an outlet end; an annular chamber around said core adjacent said outlet end of said helical path; a plurality of elongated discharge tubes communicating with said annular chamber; and baffle means interposed between said outlet end of said helical path and said annular chamber for dissipating spiral motion of the water leaving said outlet end of said helical path and before entering said annular chamber.

Claim 3

An emitter as defined in claim 1 in which said core and said casing are formed of a relatively rigid plastic, and said tubes are each formed of a relatively flexible material.

Claim 4

An emitter as defined in claim 1 in which said annular chamber is formed by a closed annulus around said casing, and said baffle means comprise at least one opening in the wall of said annulus between said core and said annular chamber.

Claim 5

An emitter as defined in claim 3 wherein said core includes an annular flange spaced from said outlet end of said helical path, and said casing includes a generally cylindrical outer wall having one end abutting said flange, said outer wall defining said wall of said annulus between said core and said annular chamber.

Claim 6

An emitter for distributing water at a low rate and low pressure uniformly to a plurality of selected areas from a single source of water of relatively high pressure, said emitter comprising: a body portion coupled to the source and receiving water under relatively high pressure; means defining a helical path having inlet and outlet ends in said body portion and through which water from said source spirals to substantially reduce its pressure; an annular chamber in said body and receiving water from said outlet end of said helical path; a pluraltiy of elongated flexible tubes communicating with said annular chamber; and means for dissipating the spiral motion of the water leaving said helical path preparatory to discharge through said tubes, whereby said tubes each receive a substantially unifoRm amount of low pressure water from said chamber and distribute the water from said body portion at a substantially uniform rate and pressure through each of said tubes.

Claim 7

An emitter for distributing water at a low rate and low pressure uniformly to a plurality of selected areas from a single source of water of relatively high pressure, said emitter comprising: a body portion coupled to the source and receiving water under relatively high pressure; means defining a helical path having inlet and outlet ends in said body portion and through which water from said source spirals to substantially reduce its pressure; an annular chamber in said body and receiving water from said outlet end of said helical path; a pluraltiy of elongated flexible tubes communicating with said annular chamber; and means for dissipating the spiral motion of the water leaving said helical path preparatory to discharge through said tubes, whereby said tubes each receive a substantially unifoRm amount of low pressure water from said chamber and distribute the water from said body portion at a substantially uniform rate and pressure through each of said tubes.

Claim 8

An emitter as defined in claim 5 in which said annular chamber is formed by a closed annulus surrounding the outlet end of said helical path, and said means for dissipating said spiral motion comprise a plurality of spaced openings between said outlet end of said helical path and said annular chamber and arranged to change the direction of water flow on entering said annular chamber.

Claim 9

An emitter as defined in claim 5 in which said body portion comprises a tubular core and a casing surrounding said core, and said means defining said helical path is disposed between said core and said casing.

Claim 10

An emitter as defined in claim 7 in which said core is generally cylindrical and said means defining said helical path includes a raised rib disposed in a helical configuration around said core and abutting the inside of said surrounding casing, said inlet end of said helical path being located adjacent one end of said core and said outlet end being located toward the end of said core remote from said one end.

Claim 11

An emitter as defined in claim 7 in which said casing and said core are releasably secured together from the inside of said body whereby there are no external openings through said core and casing through which undesirable water leakage can occur.

Claim 12

An emitter for providing a low rate, low pressure discharge of water from a water source of considerably higher pressure, said emitter comprising: a tubular core adapted to be connected at one end to the water source for receiving water under relatively high pressure; a generally cylindrical casing surrounding a portion of said core including the end of said core remote from said one end; means between said core and said casing defining a helical path having an inlet end adjacent said end of said core remote from said one end, and an outlet end longitudinally spaced from said inlet end toward said one end, said means providing a substantial pressure drop in water traveling along said helical path with spiral motion between said inlet end and said outlet end; means forming an annular chamber around said core adjacent said outlet end of said helical path; a plurality of elongated discharge tubes communicating with said annular chamber; and means permitting water to enter said annular chamber from said outlet end of said helical path and for dissipating spiral motion of the water before discharge through said tubes whereby substantially uniform discharge through each of said tubes is achieved.

Claim 13

An emitter for providing a low rate, low pressure discharge of water from a water source of considerably higher pressure, said emitter comprising: a tubular core adapted to be connected at one end to the water source for receiving water under relatively high pressure; a generally cylindrical casing surrounding a portion of said core including the end of said core remote from said one end; means between said core and said casing defining a helical path having an inlet end adjacent said end of said core remote from said one end, and an outlet end longitudinally spaced from said inlet end toward said one end, said means providing a substantial pressure drop in water traveling along said helical path with spiral motion between said inlet end and said outlet end; means forming an annular chamber around said core adjacent said outlet end of said helical path; a plurality of elongated discharge tubes communicating with said annular chamber; and means permitting water to enter said annular chamber from said outlet end of said helical path and for dissipating spiral motion of the water before discharge through said tubes whereby substantially uniform discharge through each of said tubes is achieved.

Claim 14

An emitter as defined in claim 10 in which said helical path is formed by a raised rib around said core and disposed between said core and said casing in a helical configuration, and said annular chamber is formed in a closed annulus separated from said outlet end of said helical path by a wall, and said means for permitting water to enter said annular chamber and for dissipating said spiral motion comprise openings through said wall.

Claim 15

An emitter as defined in claim 11 in which each of said discharge tubes communicate with said annular chamber at a place circumferentially spaced from said openings through said wall, whereby water passing through said openings must also move around said annular chamber prior to entering said tube.

Claim 16

An emitter as defined in claim 12 wherein said core includes a flange projecting outwardly therefrom adjacent the outlet end of said helical path, and said annulus is formed in said casing and includes walls engaging said flange to close said annulus and enclose said annular chamber.

Claim 17

An emitter as defined in claim 13 wherein said casing is releasably secured to said core, and said annulus includes a circumferential lip engaged with said flange for forming a fluid seal between core and casing.

Claim 18

An emitter as defined in claim 14 wherein said casing and said core aRe each formed of a relatively rigid plastic, and each of said tubes is formed of a relatively flexible material.