A system for fabricating an irrigation dripper, comprises several processing stations. One or more longitudinal drilling stations drill in an elongated extruded body of an irrigation dripper a first bore and a second bore, wherein the second bore is contiguous to the first bore and is smaller in diameter than the first bore. An additional drilling station drills an additional bore in the body to connect the first bore with an external surface of the elongated body. An assembling station inserts an extruded rod through the first and the second bores, such that the second bore holds a distal end of the rod to maintain a gap between the rod and an inner wall of the first bore.

The invention includes systems and methods for applying liquids to the ground including an applicator with at least one conduit with at least one delivery outlet, and a support structure for the conduit where the conduit provides a fluid path to the delivery outlet from a liquid reservoir on a toolbar or agricultural machine. The systems and methods provide consistent placement of the liquids close to the stem of row crops, preferably within about 5 inches of the base of the stems. The systems and methods also provide this consistent placement over a variety of distances or lengths of the rows, including up to a mile in length. The systems and methods also allow for a variety of speeds for the application of liquids in this consistent manner.

A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line and a control station configured to control a pressure of pressurized fluid in the drip line is provided. The controllable emitter is disposable along the drip line and includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a piston, including a magnetic element, disposed at least partially in the container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid and a sensor configured to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station.

An irrigation implement may include a member having a first end a second end. The first end may be open and the second end may include a pinched seal. The member may further define an opening disposed toward the second end, and be configured to enable an irrigation tube to be attached to the opening such that the opening is sealed by the irrigation tube. A process may use a pinching and heating process to self-seal the irrigation implement on one end in producing the irrigation implement.

A hybrid emitter of low discharge for water or solutions is inserted and welded into a pipe during the production phase. The hybrid emitter bears at its convex and cylindrical surface local protrusions that are covered completely from the pipe which is swelled locally. The water exits preferably from two nozzles that are created within the protrusions by the cutting-off of the tips, which protrusions protrude and after cutting-off, said nozzles eject the water almost cross-wise to two opposite directions and at short discrete distances left and right of the pipe. A method for welding of emitters and accessories into a pipe where the emitter or the hybrid one with or without protrusions on the outer surface, are inserted into the pipe during its production phase.

The present invention provides a dripper apparatus for use with an irrigation system. The apparatus comprises an elongate shaft, having a first inlet end; a second, opposing outlet end; a filter section provided along a portion of the shaft, extending from the first, inlet end; a flow restriction section provided along a portion of the shaft, adjacent the filter section and extending partway toward the second, outlet end; a central bore extending within the shaft from the flow restriction section to the second, outlet end, defining an outlet aperture; and a conduit provided to ensure fluid communication between the flow restriction section and the central bore. The present invention also provides an irrigation system including one or more tube members having dripper apparatus at least partly received therein.

An irrigation drip emitter, and methods relating to same, are provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. The emitter having at least one movable member for compensating for fluctuations in supply line fluid pressure. In one form, the movable member includes a tapered baffle section movable between a first position wherein fluid is allowed to flow over the tapered baffle section and a second position wherein fluid is prevented from flowing over at least a portion of the tapered baffle section and the tapered baffle section effectively lengthening the extent of a pressure reduction passage. In another form, first and second movable members are provided for compensating for such pressure fluctuations. In another form, a plurality of inputs is provided which are movable between first and second positions to compensate for such pressure fluctuations.

The present invention provides a local cold/warm pad for strawberry cultivation, the local cold/warm pad including: a geothermal hose unit (102) configured such that supply hose part bodies (10 and 11) through which cold water or hot water is supplied are formed, a discharge hose part (12) is formed between the supply hose part bodies (10 and 11), the discharge hose part (12) and the supply hose part bodies (10 and 11) are fused to form fusion portions (14), and a plurality of pin holes are formed in the fusion portions (14); dripping hose units (104) seated on and fixed to the fusion portions (14), and provided with a plurality of nozzle holes (32) for supplying irrigation water to crops; and fixing members (106) configured to fix the dripping hose units (104) seated on the fusion portions so that the dripping hose units (104) are not shaken or separated.

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.

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.