A multifunctional irrigation pliers and method of piercing, cutting, and fitting an irrigation tube with an irrigation pliers. The irrigation pliers enables the forming of a hole in an irrigation tube, the placement of a nozzle or a drip emitter into the formed hole or a terminal opening of the irrigation tube, the cutting of a length of the irrigation tube, and general deforming of sections of the irrigation tube. A first jaw and a second jaw are pivotally attached together at a pivoting joint to allow the jaws to be pivotally displaced toward and away from each other by moving a first handle and a second handle to and away from each other. The inner surfaces of the jaw comprise a blade, a spike, and retaining slots sequentially positioned across the jaws to engage the irrigation tube, the nozzle, and the drip emitter.

The disclosed device is an irrigation coupling with an integral filter. The irrigation coupling makes maintaining an irrigation system simpler and cheaper by using a small, replaceable component to strain sediment and debris from water in the system. The irrigation couplings prevent the sediment and debris from reaching sprinkler heads which in turn prevents the sprinkler heads, which are more expensive to replace, from clogging.

Various systems, methods and apparatus for locating emitters embedded in tubing are disclosed herein, as well as forming outlets in said tubing and confirming the placement accuracy of such outlets. In one form, an emitter locator is disclosed having: a housing defining a generally enclosed space and having an inlet located in a first side of the housing and an outlet located in a second side of the housing positioned opposite the inlet; a cutter positioned within the generally enclosed space between the inlet and outlet; a first optical instrument located proximate the inlet; a second optical instrument located proximate the outlet; and a controller connected to the cutter and first and second optical instruments, the controller configured to detect a tubing target area desired for placement of an outlet opening in tubing that passes through the inlet and cut the tubing target area to form the outlet opening therein.

An irrigation implement including a member having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends both being positioned along a longitudinal axis of the member. The first end being open and the second end including a pinched seal. The member further defines an opening disposed toward the second end, and being configured to enable an irrigation tube to be attached to the opening such that the opening is sealed by the irrigation tube.

Methods and apparatus for checking emitter bonds in an irrigation drip line and for manufacturing drip line in a manner that allows the bond between the in-line emitter and surrounding conduit to be checked. In one form, a downstream in-line vacuum tester is provided for monitoring the amount of air escaping from outlet openings in the drip line to detect excessive air associated with poorly bonded emitters.

A method for utilizing a tool for installing drip tubes to main drip lines with a coupler. The tool may have an integral body which serves several functions in installing drip tubes to main drip lines with a coupler. The tool has a needle which punctures holes in the main drip line for insertion of one end of the coupler. The tool has a slotted head which grasps the coupler facilitating the insertion of the coupler into the hole in the main line. Embodiments of the tool may also have apertures in the tool which fit around the coupler for facilitating the insertion of an end of the coupler into the open end of the drip tube.

The invention provides a device and method for repeatedly installing drip irrigation emitters into drip irrigation tubing. The device can be provided with a magazine capable of holding a plurality of drip irrigation emitters. The magazine feeds individual drip irrigation emitters to a plunger and sleeve arrangement that cooperate to guide the drip irrigation emitters through the device's housing and into a section of drip irrigation tubing.

A drip irrigation emitter (1), which comprises a low pressure stop filter (5), a pressure reduction channel (8), and a diaphragm (10), is disposed on the inner wall surface of a flow pipe (3) through which the irrigation liquid flows. The low pressure stop filter (5) has a hydrophobic surface and prevents inflow of the irrigation liquid when the fluid pressure is lower than an established value. The pressure reduction channel (8) reduces the pressure of the irrigation liquid. The diaphragm (10) changes the degree of opening of the pressure reduction channel (8) according to the fluid pressure of the irrigation liquid. The drip irrigation emitter (1) can be manufactured at low cost as a result of being a one-piece molding. The drip irrigation device comprising the drip irrigation emitter (1) stably ejects the irrigation liquid even when the liquid pressure is low.

A dispenser for simultaneously dispensing water and fertiliser comprising: a chamber having a chamber wall which is at least partially water permeable; a fertiliser supply line having a fertiliser supply line wall; a water supply line having a water supply line wall, the water supply line wall having at least one aperture extending through the wall; the water supply line and the fertiliser supply line being arranged within the chamber; and at least one dispensing head comprising one or more outlets; wherein the at least one dispensing head extends through the fertiliser supply line wall and the water permeable wall of the chamber.

An irrigation insertion tool is disclosed for inserting an irrigation emitter into an irrigation tubing. The irrigation insertion tool comprises a primary lever including a primary fulcrum base coupling a primary handle and a primary jaw. A secondary lever includes a secondary fulcrum base coupling a secondary handle and a secondary jaw. A couple joins the primary fulcrum base and the secondary fulcrum base for defining a fulcrum. A tubing channel is in the primary jaw for receiving the irrigation tubing. An emitter socket is in the secondary jaw for receiving the irrigation emitter. The primary handle and the secondary handle converge for generating a mechanical advantage between the primary jaw and the secondary primary jaw. The primary jaw and the secondary jaw compress the irrigation tubing with the irrigation emitter and pierce the barb tube through the irrigation tubing.