US5111996A — Incremental pressure-compensating drip irrigation…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 252 words

A drip irrigation emitter operatively installed in an irrigation pipe having an interior containing pressurized fluid and an exterior exposed to ambient conditions, the interior communicating with the exterior via at least one outlet opening in the pipe, the drip irrigation emitter comprising: means defining a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an inlet end for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe and an outlet end for emitting fluid from the passageway for communicating the interior of the pipe to said at least one outlet opening in the pipe, the flow-limiting fluid passageway having a maximum fluid-flow path length; channel means coupled to an intermediate portion of the passageway located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid between the intermediate portion of the passageway and one of the pipe interior and said at least one outlet opening in the pipe; and valve means coupled to the channel means, and operable in a fluid-flow restricting state and in a fluid-flow nonrestricting state, and being responsive to the fluid pressure inside the pipe for operating in one of the operating states when the pressure inside the pipe is less than a predetermined pressure and for operating in the other of the operating states when the pressure inside the pipe is more than the predetermined pressure, whereby the length of the shortest path of fluid flowing through the passageway to said at least one outlet opening is less than the maximum length when the valve means is operating in the nonrestricting state.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 252 words

A drip irrigation emitter operatively installed in an irrigation pipe having an interior containing pressurized fluid and an exterior exposed to ambient conditions, the interior communicating with the exterior via at least one outlet opening in the pipe, the drip irrigation emitter comprising: means defining a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an inlet end for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe and an outlet end for emitting fluid from the passageway for communicating the interior of the pipe to said at least one outlet opening in the pipe, the flow-limiting fluid passageway having a maximum fluid-flow path length; channel means coupled to an intermediate portion of the passageway located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid between the intermediate portion of the passageway and one of the pipe interior and said at least one outlet opening in the pipe; and valve means coupled to the channel means, and operable in a fluid-flow restricting state and in a fluid-flow nonrestricting state, and being responsive to the fluid pressure inside the pipe for operating in one of the operating states when the pressure inside the pipe is less than a predetermined pressure and for operating in the other of the operating states when the pressure inside the pipe is more than the predetermined pressure, whereby the length of the shortest path of fluid flowing through the passageway to said at least one outlet opening is less than the maximum length when the valve means is operating in the nonrestricting state.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 219 words

A drip irrigation emitter operatively installed in an irrigation pipe having an interior containing pressurized fluid and said at least one exterior exposed to ambient conditions, the interior communicating with the exterior via at least one outlet opening in the pipe, the drip irrigation emitter comprising: means defining a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an inlet end for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe interior and a first outlet end in communication with said at least one outlet opening in the pipe for emitting fluid from the passageway; first channel means coupled to a first intermediate portion of the passageway, located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid between the first intermediate portion of the passageway and one of the pipe interior and said at least one outlet opening in the pipe; and first valve means associated with and disposed in the first channel means, and responsive to the pressure of the fluid in the pipe interior for restricting the first channel means when the pressure of the fluid in the pipe exceeds a first predetermined pressure and for opening the channel means when the pressure in the pipe does not exceed the first predetermined pressure to allow the fluid to bypass the portion of the flow-limiting fluid passageway down stream of the channel means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 219 words

A drip irrigation emitter operatively installed in an irrigation pipe having an interior containing pressurized fluid and said at least one exterior exposed to ambient conditions, the interior communicating with the exterior via at least one outlet opening in the pipe, the drip irrigation emitter comprising: means defining a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an inlet end for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe interior and a first outlet end in communication with said at least one outlet opening in the pipe for emitting fluid from the passageway; first channel means coupled to a first intermediate portion of the passageway, located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid between the first intermediate portion of the passageway and one of the pipe interior and said at least one outlet opening in the pipe; and first valve means associated with and disposed in the first channel means, and responsive to the pressure of the fluid in the pipe interior for restricting the first channel means when the pressure of the fluid in the pipe exceeds a first predetermined pressure and for opening the channel means when the pressure in the pipe does not exceed the first predetermined pressure to allow the fluid to bypass the portion of the flow-limiting fluid passageway down stream of the channel means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 68 words

An emitter according to claim 2 further comprising a second channel means associated with and coupled to a second intermediate portion of the passageway for transmitting fluid between the passageway and one of the pipe interior and an outlet opening in the pipe, and a second valve means for restricting the second channel means when a second predetermined fluid pressure different than the first predetermined pressure is reached.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

An emitter according to claim 3 wherein the second channel means is located between the first outlet end and the first portion of the passageway, and the second predetermined pressure is greater than the first predetermined pressure.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 52 words

An emitter according to claim 3 wherein each of the valve means comprises a wall exposed on one side to the fluid in the pipe and on the other side to the associated channel means, the wall being deformable for collapsing into the channel means when the respective predetermined pressure is reached.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

An emitter according to claim 2 wherein the valve means comprises a wall exposed on one side to the fluid in the pipe and on the other side to the channel means, the wall being deformable for collapsing into the channel means when the predetermined pressure is reached.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 230 words

A drip irrigation emitter, for use with an irrigation pipe containing pressurized fluid, comprising: an outer member having an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one opening extending between the inner and outer surfaces; an inner member fixedly positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the outer member over the opening, the inner member defining an inner chamber for receiving the pipe fluid; the inner member and the outer member defining, in combination: a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an effective cross-sectional area, an inlet end in communication with the inner chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe and an outlet end in communication with the outer-member opening for emitting the fluid from the passageway; a channel coupled to a first intermediate portion of the passageway located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid from the first intermediate portion of the passageway toward said at least one outer member opening; and a resilient wall forming a barrier between the channel and the inner chamber, the wall being responsive to the pressure in the inner chamber for restricting the channel when the pressure exceeds a first predetermined pressure and for opening the channel when the pressure in the inner chamber does not exceed the first predetermined pressure to allow the fluid to bypass the portion of the flow-limiting fluid passageway downstream of the channel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 230 words

A drip irrigation emitter, for use with an irrigation pipe containing pressurized fluid, comprising: an outer member having an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one opening extending between the inner and outer surfaces; an inner member fixedly positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the outer member over the opening, the inner member defining an inner chamber for receiving the pipe fluid; the inner member and the outer member defining, in combination: a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an effective cross-sectional area, an inlet end in communication with the inner chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe and an outlet end in communication with the outer-member opening for emitting the fluid from the passageway; a channel coupled to a first intermediate portion of the passageway located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid from the first intermediate portion of the passageway toward said at least one outer member opening; and a resilient wall forming a barrier between the channel and the inner chamber, the wall being responsive to the pressure in the inner chamber for restricting the channel when the pressure exceeds a first predetermined pressure and for opening the channel when the pressure in the inner chamber does not exceed the first predetermined pressure to allow the fluid to bypass the portion of the flow-limiting fluid passageway downstream of the channel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

An emitter according to claim 7 wherein the wall is integral with the inner member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

An emitter according to claim 7 wherein the inner member includes an aperture extending between the inner chamber and the channel, and the wall comprises a resilient web closing the aperture.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 243 words

A drip irrigation emitter insert for use in an irrigation pipe, the pipe having an interior that contains pressurized fluid flowing along a fluid path, an exterior, and at least one opening communicating the interior with the exterior of the pipe, the insert being constructed to be fixedly positioned inside and in intimate contact with the pipe for separating the opening from the fluid path, and the insert defining an inner chamber for receiving fluid from the pipe, the insert, when fixed in the pipe, comprising: a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an effective cross-sectional area with an inlet end in communication with the inner chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe and an outlet end in communication with the at least one opening for emitting the fluid from the passageway; a channel coupled to a first intermediate portion of the passageway located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid from the first intermediate portion of the passageway toward the at least one pipe opening; and a resilient wall forming a barrier between the channel and the inner chamber, the wall being responsive to the pressure in the inner chamber for restricting the channel when the pressure exceeds a first predetermined pressure and for opening the channel when the pressure in the inner chamber does not exceed the first predetermined pressure to allow the fluid to bypass the portion of the flow-limiting fluid passageway downstream of the channel.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 243 words

A drip irrigation emitter insert for use in an irrigation pipe, the pipe having an interior that contains pressurized fluid flowing along a fluid path, an exterior, and at least one opening communicating the interior with the exterior of the pipe, the insert being constructed to be fixedly positioned inside and in intimate contact with the pipe for separating the opening from the fluid path, and the insert defining an inner chamber for receiving fluid from the pipe, the insert, when fixed in the pipe, comprising: a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an effective cross-sectional area with an inlet end in communication with the inner chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe and an outlet end in communication with the at least one opening for emitting the fluid from the passageway; a channel coupled to a first intermediate portion of the passageway located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid from the first intermediate portion of the passageway toward the at least one pipe opening; and a resilient wall forming a barrier between the channel and the inner chamber, the wall being responsive to the pressure in the inner chamber for restricting the channel when the pressure exceeds a first predetermined pressure and for opening the channel when the pressure in the inner chamber does not exceed the first predetermined pressure to allow the fluid to bypass the portion of the flow-limiting fluid passageway downstream of the channel.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

An insert according to claim 10 wherein the wall is integral with the insert.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

An insert according to claim 10 wherein the insert includes an aperture extending between the inner chamber and the channel, and the wall comprises a resilient web closing the aperture.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-05-12	1995-11-11	1996-05-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-05-12	1999-11-11	2000-05-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-05-12	2003-11-11	2004-05-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Incremental pressure-compensating drip irrigation emitter

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