US3873031A — Weeper irrigation system and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 177 words

That improvement in a weeper type irrigation system of the type having plastic tubing for distributing pressurized water to an area to be irrigated, tubular weeper means having an inlet end projecting through the sidewall of said plastic tubing with a self-sealing fit occurring automatically as an incident to the insertion of said weeper means, said weeper means having a relatively large area water outlet opening at the opposite end thereof from said inlet end, valve seats facing one another from the inner ends of said inlet and outlet openings, a valve held loosely captive between said valve seats and seatable by gravity on the valve seat at said inlet end when said plastic tubing is not pressurized and being automatically shiftable into fixed seating engagement with said valve seat at said outlet opening so long as water in said tubing is pressurized, and one of said valve seats having a bleeder water flow passage thereacross effective to limit water flow through said irrigation system so long as said valve is seated on said one valve seat.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 177 words

That improvement in a weeper type irrigation system of the type having plastic tubing for distributing pressurized water to an area to be irrigated, tubular weeper means having an inlet end projecting through the sidewall of said plastic tubing with a self-sealing fit occurring automatically as an incident to the insertion of said weeper means, said weeper means having a relatively large area water outlet opening at the opposite end thereof from said inlet end, valve seats facing one another from the inner ends of said inlet and outlet openings, a valve held loosely captive between said valve seats and seatable by gravity on the valve seat at said inlet end when said plastic tubing is not pressurized and being automatically shiftable into fixed seating engagement with said valve seat at said outlet opening so long as water in said tubing is pressurized, and one of said valve seats having a bleeder water flow passage thereacross effective to limit water flow through said irrigation system so long as said valve is seated on said one valve seat.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of protective guard means disposed across the outer end of said water outlet opening and cooperating therewith to provide a flow passage.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

That improvement defined in claim 2 characterized in that said protective guard means is adjustable axially of the outer end of said outlet opening.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

That improvement defined in claim 2 characterized in that said protective guard means is integral with the outer end of said tubular weeper means and formed to direct the discharging water laterally of said outer end.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 95 words

That improvement as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said protective guard means is cup-shaped and telescoped loosely over the outlet end of said weeper means, means for holding said protective guard means assembled to said weeper means selectively in either of two positions, and means whereby when said guard means is in the first of said positions said valve is seated on said valve seat at the inner end of said outlet opening and in the second of which positions said valve is held unseated to permit a substantially greater flow of water.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

That improvement defined in claim 2 characterized in that one of said protective guard and said valve means includes means extending axially oF said outlet opening and operable when moved axially inwardly therealong to hold said valve unseated from said valve seat.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 68 words

That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in that said weeper means has a tubular inlet end formed with an annular bulge about its exterior adapted to be forcibly inserted through an opening in the side of said plastic tube and thereafter to seat against the inner rim edge of said last mentioned opening to hold said weeper means assembled to said plastic tube in a fluidtight manner.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 76 words

That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in that said weeper means has a reduced diameter inlet end having a length substantially greater than the wall thickness of said plastic tubing and encircled at its free outer end with a low-height annular bead adapted to be forcibly inserted through an opening in the sidewall of said plastic tubing and thereafter effective to retain said bleeder means snugly but separably assembled therein without need for fastener means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 44 words

That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in that said weeper means includes a tubular extension assembled over said outlet opening, the outer free end of said tubular extension being flattened to provide a narrow ribbon-like outlet effective to provide a misty spray discharge.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 155 words

That improvement in a weeper type irrigation system of the type having plastic tubing for distributing pressurized water to an area to be irrigated, said tubing including a portion having a cup-like receptacle formed in the exterior surface thereof and having a normally imperforate bottom, tubular weeper means having a restricted outlet port adjacent one end thereof and enclosing a non-flexible captive valve interiorly thereof adapted to be held immovably seated against the inner end of said outlet port by pressurized water and cooperating with said outlet port to limit the escape of water therefrom, tubular means projecting axially from the opposite end of said weeper means from said outlet port adapted to be secured to a hole formed through the bottom of said cup-like receptacle, and said tubular means and the adjacent end of said weeper means having a snug fit respectively with said hole and with the interior surface of said cup-like receptacle.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 155 words

That improvement in a weeper type irrigation system of the type having plastic tubing for distributing pressurized water to an area to be irrigated, said tubing including a portion having a cup-like receptacle formed in the exterior surface thereof and having a normally imperforate bottom, tubular weeper means having a restricted outlet port adjacent one end thereof and enclosing a non-flexible captive valve interiorly thereof adapted to be held immovably seated against the inner end of said outlet port by pressurized water and cooperating with said outlet port to limit the escape of water therefrom, tubular means projecting axially from the opposite end of said weeper means from said outlet port adapted to be secured to a hole formed through the bottom of said cup-like receptacle, and said tubular means and the adjacent end of said weeper means having a snug fit respectively with said hole and with the interior surface of said cup-like receptacle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

That improvement defined in claim 10 characterized in that said plastic tubing is formed with a plurality of said cup-like receptacles in close proximity to one another each having a closed bottom adapted to be perforated for assembly thereto of an individual one of said weeper means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

That improvement defined in claim 10 characterized in that a length of flexible tubing is telescoped over the outer end of said weeper means with its outer end spaced remotely from said weeper means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 45 words

That improvement defined in claim 10 characterized in that said cup-like receptacle is formed in a short length of plastic tubing having internal threads at one end and external threads at its opposite end and respectively located on the opposite sides of said cup-like receptacle.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

That improvement defined in claim 1 characterized in that said valve is spherical and held loosely captive within an elongated flow passage of non-circular cross-section interiorly of said weeper means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 139 words

That improvement in a weeper type irrigation system which comprises plastic tubing for distributing pressurized water along an area to be irragated, tubular weeper means in communication with the interior of said plastic tubing through a tubular inlet neck of semi-rigid material having a snug press fit axially of an opening in the sidewall of said tubing and including a bead embracing the exterior of said neck adjacent the inner rim edge of the opening to which said inlet neck is assembled, said bead and the snug fit of said inlet neck with the opening through said tubing cooperating to hold said weeper means assembled to said tubing in a fluid tight manner under pressurized water operating conditions, and the outlet end of said weeper means Including valve means cooperating therewith effective to limit the flow of water therefrom.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 139 words

That improvement in a weeper type irrigation system which comprises plastic tubing for distributing pressurized water along an area to be irragated, tubular weeper means in communication with the interior of said plastic tubing through a tubular inlet neck of semi-rigid material having a snug press fit axially of an opening in the sidewall of said tubing and including a bead embracing the exterior of said neck adjacent the inner rim edge of the opening to which said inlet neck is assembled, said bead and the snug fit of said inlet neck with the opening through said tubing cooperating to hold said weeper means assembled to said tubing in a fluid tight manner under pressurized water operating conditions, and the outlet end of said weeper means Including valve means cooperating therewith effective to limit the flow of water therefrom.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 31 words

That improvement defined in claim 15 characterized in that said bead is crowned transversely thereof to facilitate forced assembly and disassembly of said weeper means with respect to said plastic tubing.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 65 words

That improvement defined in claim 15 characterized in that said weeper means includes an axially elongated valve chamber provided at its opposite ends with valve seats facing forward one another, flow-responsive valve means freely movable into seating engagement with either of said valve seats, and said valve means being effective to limit but not prevent flow therepast when seated against one of said valve seats.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

That improvement defined in claim 17 characterized in that said valve means is adapted to form a fluid-tight seal when seated against the other one of said valve seats.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 47 words

That improvement defined in claim 15 characterized in the provision of protective cap means having a loose snap fit over the outlet end of said weeper means to preclude the entrance of foreign matter but freely passing a weeper flow of water escaping from said outlet end.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 47 words

That improvement defined in claim 15 characterized in the provision of protective cap means having a loose telescopic fit over the outer end of said weeper means and including cooperative means for holding said cap assembled selectively in first and second positions axially of said weeper means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 63 words

That improvement defined in claim 20 characterized in that said cap and said valve means include means whereby said valve means is effective to restrict water flow therepast when said cap is in said first assembled position and whereby said valve means is held positively in position to permit a substantially increased flow therepast when said cap is in said second assembled position.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 78 words

A weeper type irrigating device comprising a tubular housing having an inlet connectable to a source of pressurized water and a ported outlet formed at its inner end with an outlet valve seat coaxially of said ported outlet formed with minute water flow passage means therealong cooperating with freely-movably loosely-supported non-flexible captive valve means within said housing to provide a minute continuous fine spray mist of water when said device is connected to a source of pressurized water.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 78 words

A weeper type irrigating device comprising a tubular housing having an inlet connectable to a source of pressurized water and a ported outlet formed at its inner end with an outlet valve seat coaxially of said ported outlet formed with minute water flow passage means therealong cooperating with freely-movably loosely-supported non-flexible captive valve means within said housing to provide a minute continuous fine spray mist of water when said device is connected to a source of pressurized water.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 22 characterized in that said outlet valve seat converges outwardly and in that said flow passage means comprises a plurality of channels formed in the surface thereof and open along their inwardly facing sides.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 28 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 22 characterized in that said valve means comprises a ball held captive between the opposite interior ends of said tubular housing.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 40 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 22 characterized in the provision of loose-fitting cap means mountable over the discharge end of said device for inverting the flow of water therefrom into a flow along the exterior of said device.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 70 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 22 characterized in the provision of means adjustably supported over the discharge end of said device and selectively adjustable to a plurality of positions in at least one of which the flow of water is inverted and in at least a second of which said means is effective to depress said valve and increase the flow of water past said valve very substantially.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 87 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 22 characterized in the provision of cap means adapted to be held detachably assembled over the discharge end of said device selectively in first and second positions, said cap means being effective in the first of said positions to invert the spray flow to a flow along the exterior of said device, and effective in the second of said positions to hold said valve means unseated from said valve seat to permit a very substantially increased flow of water therepast.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 60 words

A weeper device as defineD in claim 22 characterized in that said water inlet includes a short small diameter tube shaped and sized to have a self-sealing forced fit in an opening in the side of a plastic tubular water distributing member and which self-sealing fit occurs automatically as an incident to the insertion of said tube into said opening.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 80 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 22 characterized in that the water inlet includes a short small diameter tube formed near one end with an annular bead embracing the exterior thereof, said tube having a forced press fit through a hole in the side of a plastic tube connectable to a source of pressurized water with said bead being located against the inner end of said hole and cooperating therewith to hold said device assembled to said plastic tube.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 31 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 29 characterized in that the other end of said plastic tube is telescoped and held permanently assembled to one end of said tubular housing.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 71 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 29 characterized in that said plastic tube is formed with plurality of cup-shaped wells inclined acutely to a plane normal to the axis of said tube and the bottoms of each of which are adapted to be pierced to provide a forced pressed fit with the exterior of said small diameter tube at the inlet end of an individual one of said weeper devices.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 47 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 22 characterized in that said tubular housing is formed in a plurality of plastic parts including a main body tube and a small diameter inlet tube having an externally flanged end inseparable from one end of said main body tube.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 32 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 32 characterized in that the discharge end of said inlet tube is provided with a conical valve seat facing toward said first mentioned valve seat.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 28 words

A weeper device as defined in claim 22 characterized in that said valve means comprises a ball held captive between and seatable against either of said valve seats.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 151 words

A weeper type irrigating device comprising a tubular housing having an inlet end connectable to a source of pressurized water and an outlet end provided with an annular valve seat provided with at least one weeper flow passage an elongated valve chamber within said tubular housing, a non-flexible valve member held loosely captive within said valve chamber freely movable between the opposite ends thereof when not supplied with pressurized water and adapted to be held normally immovably against said valve seat by water pressure to provide a weeper flow therepast and responsive to gravity to move backwardly off said valve seat and to the inlet end of said elongated valve chamber upon cessation of flow, whereby abrupt restoration of water flow provides a burst of pressurized water flow effective to purge said weeper flow passage of foreign matter while said valve is moving back into seating engagement on said valve seat.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 151 words

A weeper type irrigating device comprising a tubular housing having an inlet end connectable to a source of pressurized water and an outlet end provided with an annular valve seat provided with at least one weeper flow passage an elongated valve chamber within said tubular housing, a non-flexible valve member held loosely captive within said valve chamber freely movable between the opposite ends thereof when not supplied with pressurized water and adapted to be held normally immovably against said valve seat by water pressure to provide a weeper flow therepast and responsive to gravity to move backwardly off said valve seat and to the inlet end of said elongated valve chamber upon cessation of flow, whereby abrupt restoration of water flow provides a burst of pressurized water flow effective to purge said weeper flow passage of foreign matter while said valve is moving back into seating engagement on said valve seat.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 205 words

That improvement in a weeper type irrigation system having plastic tubing for distributing pressurized water to an area to be irrigated, tubular weeper means having an inlet end projecting through an opening in the sidewall of said plastic tubing, said weeper means having a relatively large area outlet opening on the end thereof remote from said inlet end and provided at its inner end with a valve seat having a restrictive water flow passage thereacross, a valve held loosely captive within said weeper means with freedom to move axially of the interior of said weeper means under non-pressurized conditions but adapted to be held seated on said valve seat by pressurized water in said tubing thereby to limit flow from said weeper means to that taking place along said restrictive flow passage, protective cap means including means for holding the same selectively assembled over the outlet end of said weeper means in first and second positions in the first of which said cap means is effective to hold said valve unseated from said valve seat and in the second of which positions said valve is Fully seated on said valve seat and effective to limit water flow to that occurring along said restrictive flow passage.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 205 words

That improvement in a weeper type irrigation system having plastic tubing for distributing pressurized water to an area to be irrigated, tubular weeper means having an inlet end projecting through an opening in the sidewall of said plastic tubing, said weeper means having a relatively large area outlet opening on the end thereof remote from said inlet end and provided at its inner end with a valve seat having a restrictive water flow passage thereacross, a valve held loosely captive within said weeper means with freedom to move axially of the interior of said weeper means under non-pressurized conditions but adapted to be held seated on said valve seat by pressurized water in said tubing thereby to limit flow from said weeper means to that taking place along said restrictive flow passage, protective cap means including means for holding the same selectively assembled over the outlet end of said weeper means in first and second positions in the first of which said cap means is effective to hold said valve unseated from said valve seat and in the second of which positions said valve is Fully seated on said valve seat and effective to limit water flow to that occurring along said restrictive flow passage.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 60 words

That improvement defined in claim 36 characterized in that said protective cap means includes an axial post on the interior bottom thereof positioned to pass loosely through said outlet opening and effective to engage and hold said valve off the valve seat of said outlet opening as said cap means is shifted from the first to the second position thereof.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 40 words

That improvement defined in claim 36 characterized in the provision of resilient detent means on said guard cap means and said weeper means for retaining said guard cap means selectively but releasably in one of said first and second positions.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 74 words

That improvement defined in claim 36 characterized in that the inlet end of said weeper means has a fluid-tight interference fit with the sidewall of an opening through the sidewall of said plastic tubing, and said inlet end having a low height bead embracing the same closely adjacent the interior surface of said plastic tubing and effective to hold said weeper means in assembled position unless and until forcibly withdrawn from its assembled position.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 60 words

That improvement defined in claim 36 characterized in thatprotective guard cap means is cup-shaped and molded from supple elastomeric material, and the sidewalls of said cap means having a loose fit over the outlet end of said weeper means permitting a free flow of water from said weeper means in both said first and second positions of said cap means.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 56 words

That improvement defined in claim 36 characterized in that said guard cap means includes a post positioned to extend through said outlet opening and hold said valve unseated from the valve seat for said outlet opening thereby to provide a substantially increased flow of water past said valve seat to purge the same of foreign matter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-03-24	1978-09-23	1979-03-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-03-24	1982-09-23	1983-03-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-03-24	1986-09-23	1987-03-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Weeper irrigation system and method

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