Vortex dripper

Claim 2

Drip irrigation emitter apparatus comprising: a water inlet; a water outlet; and an elongated flowpath extending in a flowpath direction from said water inlet to said water outlet, said flowpath defining an entrance coupled to said water inlet and extending into a type one vortex region, said type one vortex region extending via an intermediate region into a type two vortex region, said type two vortex region extending via an intermediate region into a type one vortex region, and wherein said type one vortex region comprises a region including a first rounded concave corner having a first radius of curvature and a first substantially pointed convex vertex to a first side of said first rounded concave corner, the first rounded concave corner extending from the water inlet to the water outlet initially in said flowpath direction and subsequently curving in a direction at least partially against said flowpath direction at the end of the corner closest to the water outlet; said type two vortex region comprises a second rounded concave corner having a second radius of curvature and a second generally pointed convex vertex to a second side of the second rounded concave corner, the second rounded concave corner extending from the water inlet to the water outlet initially in said flowpath direction and subsequently curving in a direction at least partially against said flowpath direction at the end of the corner closest to the water outlet.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said first and second radii of curvature are identical.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said first and second radii of curvature are different.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein the separation between the imaginary center of curvature of the first rounded concave corner and the first substantially pointed convex vertex is less than the first radius of curvature and the separation between the imaginary center of curvature of the second rounded concave corner and the second generally pointed convex vertex is less than the second radius of curvature.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein the separation between the imaginary center of curvature of the first rounded concave corner and the first substantially pointed convex vertex is equal to the first radius of curvature and the separation between the imaginary center of curvature of the second rounded concave corner and the second generally pointed convex vertex is equal to the second radius of curvature.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said intermediate regions have a uniform cross section.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 and including a plurality of series of intermediate regions and a flow path comprising a plurality of generally elongate sections, each including a plurality of type one and type two vortex regions joined by said intermediate regions.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 and wherein said intermediate regions are generally parallel to each other.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6 and wherein said intermediate regions are not parallel to each other.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 7 and wherein the junction between each of said intermediate regions and each following vortex region defines a substantially sharp corner.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said type one vortex region also includes a first adjacent concave corner adjacent to said first convex vertex.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said type two vortex region also includes a second adjacent concave corner adjacent to said second convex vertex.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein said first adjacent concave corner comprises a substantially pointed corner.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein said second adjacent concave corner comprises a substantially pointed corner.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein said first adjacent concave corner comprises a substantially rounded corner.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein said second adjacent concave corner comprises a substantially rounded corner.

Claim 18

A continuous drip irrigation hose including an outer hose and emitter inserts located at predetermined locations along said hose, said emitter inserts comprising: a water inlet; a water outlet; and an elongated flowpath extending in a flowpath direction from said water inlet to said water outlet, said flowpath defining an entrance coupled to said water inlet and extending into a type one vortex region, said type one vortex region extending via an intermediate region into a type two vortex region, said type two vortex region extending via an intermediate region into a type one vortex region, and wherein said type one vortex region comprises a region including a first rounded concave corner having a first radius of curvature and a first substantially pointed convex vertex to a first side of said first rounded concave corner, the first rounded concave corner extending from the water inlet to the water outlet initially in said flowpath direction and subsequently curving in a direction at least partially against said flowpath direction at the end of the corner closest to the water outlet; said type two vortex region comprises a second rounded concave corner having a second radius of curvature and a second generally pointed convex vertex to a second side of the second rounded concave corner, the second rounded concave corner extending from the water inlet to the water outlet initially in said flowpath direction and subsequently curving in a direction at least partially against said flowpath direction at the end of the corner closest to the water outlet.

Claim 19

A continuous drip irrigation hose including an outer hose and emitter inserts located at predetermined locations along said hose, said emitter inserts comprising: a water inlet; a water outlet; and an elongated flowpath extending in a flowpath direction from said water inlet to said water outlet, said flowpath defining an entrance coupled to said water inlet and extending into a type one vortex region, said type one vortex region extending via an intermediate region into a type two vortex region, said type two vortex region extending via an intermediate region into a type one vortex region, and wherein said type one vortex region comprises a region including a first rounded concave corner having a first radius of curvature and a first substantially pointed convex vertex to a first side of said first rounded concave corner, the first rounded concave corner extending from the water inlet to the water outlet initially in said flowpath direction and subsequently curving in a direction at least partially against said flowpath direction at the end of the corner closest to the water outlet; said type two vortex region comprises a second rounded concave corner having a second radius of curvature and a second generally pointed convex vertex to a second side of the second rounded concave corner, the second rounded concave corner extending from the water inlet to the water outlet initially in said flowpath direction and subsequently curving in a direction at least partially against said flowpath direction at the end of the corner closest to the water outlet.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 17 and wherein said first and second radii of curvature are identical.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 17 and wherein said first and second radii of curvature are different.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 17 and wherein the separation between the imaginary center of curvature of the first rounded concave corner and the first substantially pointed convex vertex is less than the first radius of curvature and the separation between the imaginary center of curvature of the second rounded concave corner and the second generally pointed convex vertex is less than the second radius of curvature.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 17 and wherein said intermediate regions have a uniform cross section.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 17 and including a plurality of series of intermediate regions and a flow path comprising a plurality of generally elongate sections, each including a plurality of type one and type two vortex regions joined by said intermediate regions.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 22 and wherein said intermediate regions are generally parallel to each other.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 22 and wherein said intermediate regions are not parallel to each other.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 22 and wherein the junction between each of said intermediate regions and each following vortex region defines a substantially sharp corner.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 17 and wherein said type one vortex region also includes a first adjacent concave corner adjacent to said first convex vertex.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 17 and wherein said type one vortex region also includes a second adjacent concave corner adjacent to said second convex vertex.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 27 and wherein said first adjacent concave corner comprises a substantially pointed corner.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 27 and wherein said second adjacent concave corner comprises a substantially pointed corner.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 27 and wherein said first adjacent concave corner comprises a substantially rounded corner.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 27 and wherein said second adjacent concave corner comprises a substantially rounded corner.